The government had promised to publicise a list of people with major tax debts this week, but decided on Tuesday to postpone that indefinitely, opting instead to make it available only to members of parliament. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos told parliament that following a report by the Hellenic Data Protection Authority, the list will be classified, and only deputies will be able to access it after those named have been given 15 days notice.
A draft law on the economy, tabled last week, had provided for the list being made public through the mass media and the Internet, with Venizelos saying that days before announcing the government’s change of heart, he was, “determined,” to ensure that everyone would know who owes large amounts of money to the state, expressing, “hope,” the data protection authority would give the green light for the list’s release.
The first part of the list that MPs will be able to view will include those owing over 1 million euros, with the next part including those with debts between 150,000 euros and 1 million.
Source: Kathimerini