Greece's Cultural Ministry Plunged Into Scandal

Poll: Culture ministry corruption probe hurts Greek conservatives © AP 2008-01-08 19:38:45 - ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's newly re-elected conservatives have suffered a sharp drop in popular support following a corruption investigation into the country's Culture Ministry, a poll found Tuesday. The judicial probe was launched after the ministry's powerful general secretary resigned and attempted to commit suicide last month. Christos Zachopoulos remains hospitalized in critical condition after plunging from the fourth floor balcony of his apartment block. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' conservatives were re-elected in September with 41.83 percent of the vote. But a nationwide poll Tuesday for private Antenna television found support for the governing New Democracy party had plummeted to 27.6 percent, with main opposition Socialists at 26.3 percent. The Metron Analysis survey was conducted Jan. 4-7 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.A female Culture Ministry employee has been charged with blackmailing Zachopoulos and taken into custody. A senior magistrate has also opened an investigation into dozens of Culture Ministry transactions concerning the appropriation of land of archaeological interest. Zachopoulos, an archaeologist and adviser to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, was the head of the ministry's powerful Central Archaeological Council, which shapes government policy on Greece's rich cultural heritage. Karamanlis served as culture minister between 2004 and 2006. ************************************************************************************ My only comment is - with so many seeming easier ways to do oneself in, why jump from a 4th story balcony???