SYRIZA heavyweight Alekos Flambouraris incited a political tempest following Proto Thema’s investigation into his business ventures. There is a tide of criticism following PT’s publication of his signature on a deal signed by Diatmisi S.A., the company founded by Flambouraris, that was commissioned to take charge of a 3.9-million-euro contract with the Region of the Peloponnese on May 20 when he was still an MP.

Critics are calling for Flambouraris’ withdrawal from the ballot of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) on Sunday’s elections due to his “conflict of interest” as a majority stake shareholder of Diatmisi S.A.

Centrist To Potami leader Stravros Theodorakis said, “Flambouraris, the spiritual mentor of Alexis Tsipras, took money as a minister just days before Parliament was dissolved. He is a shareholder, owner of a construction company, and because it’s a small world where everyone knows each other, it’s not just Flambouraris but many other people close to Tsipras. There are other people in the Tsipras government that won tenders for public works just days before the elections. Tsipras himself said so and I felt that he didn’t want to say more about it – but if he wants I can say that he has grown up in a home of constructors. His father was a constructor of public works. His uncle was a constructor of public works, starting his career during the dictatorship.”

Conservative New Democracy Leader Vangelis Meimarakis said that he was waiting for a statement by Flambouraris himself on the matter. He said that he did not want to take a stand on the matter before hearing what Flambouraris himself had to say about the controversial contract.

Former SYRIZA alternate finance minister Dimitris Mardas said, “Flambouraris should not have participated in the Tender”. The former SYRIZA heavyweight pointed to the incident as a “moral issue that anyone can interpret as they wish…” He pointed to the legal ramifications of Flambouraris’ participation as a shareholder while also on the SYRIZA ballot poll, stating that “ministers should not participate in public tenders.”

Popular Unity party spokesperson Zoe Konstantopoulou lashed out against her former SYRIZA comrade during an event at Omonoia Square. She spoke of the implications that the incident had concerning Tsipras’ own decision to place Flambouraris as head of the Athens A’ ballot. “The battle against corruption cannot be given by those who gave into euro-corruption and cover the national neo-corruption so that this in turn could cover their own infringements.” She cast doubt on Tsipras’ own ability to lead. “A leader is one who honors his words and doesnt cancel the popular mandate,” she said, while criticizing those close to Tsipras.

Conservative ND deputy Adonis Georgiadis spoke of the former MP’s legal responsibility, leaving open the possibility of a parliamentary committee being created to examine the public tender following the elections.

Former SYRIZA deputy Rachel Makri characterized Flambouraris as the new “Macchiavelli” of Alexis Tsipras after “commissioning public works to himself”.

Former socialist PASOK deputy Andreas Loverdos spoke of the constitutional infringement that was made.”

The national media caught fire with Wednesday’s headlines dominated by the public tender.