Greece’s new right-wing health minister apologized on Wednesday for previous statements with which the country’s Jewish community had a strong problem and declared its “absolute respect” for the victims of the Holocaust and its opposition to anti-Semitism.
Athanassios Plevris’ statement on social media came hours after Greece’s Central Board of Jewish Communities (which uses the Greek acronym KIS) expressed concern on Tuesday about his appointment to the cabinet.
A KIS statement had summoned Plevris to apologize for statements he made as a defense attorney in a 2009 court case against his far-right father, Constantinos Plevris, accused of inciting racist hatred or violence for a book called “The Jews: The Whole Truth.”
KIS then quoted the Minister of Health and commented on a reference to the Nazi extermination camp of Auschwitz: “What incitement is this? Is it that you can’t believe and want to believe that ‘I want to exterminate someone?’ “.
Plevris said Wednesday that KIS ‘objections to his court’s comments were “understandable” and that he “totally disagreed” with his father’s views.
“But I never wanted to insult the Jewish people and I apologize if I did,” the 44-year-old lawyer said. “I am sure that … as Minister of Health, I will not leave the slightest reason for the reservation of those who doubt my respect for the Holocaust and will see that in no case do I hold anti-Semitic sentiments.”
The new minister joined the center-right New Democracy government party in 2012 and was previously elected to parliament with a small right-wing populist party. He has repeatedly reiterated that he rejects the political views of his father, who was eventually acquitted.
Plevris, who is well to the right of the New Democracy general line, received the health care portfolio – his first cabinet position – during a government reshuffle on Tuesday.