Greek Deputy Agriculture Minister Makarios Lazaridis resigned on Saturday following mounting criticism over his academic qualifications, saying he was stepping down to avoid distracting the government’s work.
Lazaridis had been appointed earlier this month in a limited cabinet reshuffle linked to a widening investigation into farm subsidies.
His appointment quickly drew scrutiny over a degree he submitted in 2007 while serving in the office of then education minister Marietta Giannakou.
He had initially refused to resign, arguing that any irregularity in his appointment was not his responsibility. He also offered to repay any improperly received salary, a move critics said amounted to an implicit admission of wrongdoing.
In a resignation statement, Lazaridis defended his record, saying he had served “with honesty and dignity” and acted with a sense of duty throughout his political career.
He accused opposition parties of launching “toxic” and “slanderous” attacks over an issue dating back nearly two decades.
Lazaridis said his resignation would allow the government and the agriculture ministry to continue their work without disruption.