Makarios Lazaridis resigns as deputy minister of rural development and food

Makarios Lazaridis has resigned from his position as deputy minister of rural development and food in Greece. The resignation follows significant political pressure and public controversy regarding his academic credentials and a 2007 appointment as a scientific advisor at the ministry of education. Reports indicate that aides to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis requested his resignation during a morning meeting. Furthermore, senior politician Dora Bakoyannis had publicly suggested that Lazaridis should step down to assist the government. The minister had recently faced backlash after an interview on Open TV, for which he issued a formal apology for his tone and remarks. In his resignation statement, Lazaridis defended his record, emphasized his transparency regarding his financial disclosures, and highlighted his commitment to the New Democracy party. The government is expected to announce his replacement in the coming days. The ministry is currently headed by Margaritis Schinas, with Yiannis Adrianos also serving as a deputy minister.