Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) heavyweight Alekos Flambouraris, the man who helped guide Tsipras from student politician to prime minister, has been engulfed in scandal that threatens the entire party. Flambouraris refuses to take the honest approach and admit to a “conflict of interest” that led to him to commission a 3.9-mln-euro project to his own technical services company in defiance of regulations that ban cabinet members from owning or operating a business.

Instead, Flambouraris has chosen to dismiss Proto Thema’s investigation. He said he transfered a majority stake held in Diatmisi S.A. when he resigned from the company’s board, though his signature on the contract signed May 20, 2015, signals just the contrary.

Rather than distance himself from the man dubbed his “political father”, Tsipras took to his defense on private STAR TV on Thursday night by stating that the 3.9-mln-euro contract to upgrade a fishing port at the beach town of Vrachati in Southern Greece may not even be profitable. He said that figures in such works are often misleading. Tsipras said that the actual contract may be from 1-1.5 million euros. “And I tell you, there may not even be any profits, with discounts that constructors are forced to make,” said Tsipras.

SYRIZA’s leader did not deny that the ex-minister did not follow the guidelines at a time when thousands of ordinary citizens are called pay fines for the slightest infringements to regulations. “Never in the past has Flambouraris been characterised as involved in infractions,” said Tsipras. “He received a job with his company in November, 2014, before elections. he was not a minister or a deputy, he just lived from his work.”

“The moral issue would arise if a minister used his position to get a job. This did not happen with Flambouraris,” said Tsipras. “He is a professional!” He got the job before he became a minister and when he became a minister he transfered the company. When the job came out three months before he became minister where is the problem?”

Despite Tsipras defense, opposition parties as well as members from the SYRIZA party itself are continuing to seek answers from the former state minister as to why the protocol was not followed.