Golden Dawn MEP L. Fountoulis talks about the Panama Papers - Video
18/04/2016 17:24
Intervention during the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week did the Golden Dawn‘s MEP, Lampros Fountoulis, during the debate on the leakage of the famous documents of Panama. In it, he stressed the need to explore in depth the lists in order to found the criminal responsibility of the persons involved, he highlighted the fact that in every case, even for those who did not commit abuses, they have enormous ethical responsibilities. He also denounced the unrestrained interplay between European politicians and corrupted businessmen, at the same time that many of them are presented as Crusaders against tax evasion. Finally, he urged Europeans to fully deny the activity of the offshore companies in the Union, although he noted that he considers this very difficult since most politicians are involved with the operation of such companies.
The full text of the intervention is following:
“Recent revelations about offshore companies in Panama, just confirmed what we already knew or even suspect. The political class in Europe follows the example of corrupted businessmen. Many representatives of both classes consider being above the law and at the same time they impose on citizens wild austerity measures and appear as crusaders against tax evasion.
How much of that money is taxed, how much laundering and how much are legitimate? There is a very serious moral issue and all persons involved in this case should account and assume their heavy responsibilities.
We have to take action for the discovery of all who maintain accounts in offshore companies, because the names that have leaked are just a tiny fraction in front of the total number.
But the most important is to take measures that will prevent the recurrence of this phenomenon. Offshore companies serve no other purpose than to help reach people to avoid the weights allocated to them. We must rethink their status throughout Europe. Does its existence serve actually the society? Is there even a plausible excuse for their operation? Because the answer is that in fact there is no excuse, we need to move towards the complete prohibition of the offshores activity. Any company wishing to operate in Europe, it must acquire tax residence in the Union. Of course, ghost companies without any operation subject should not continue to exist.
But I fear there is no political will for such measures, probably because, as recently revealed, many of these companies belong to politicians.”
