National Gallery and Ancient Olympia undermine Geroulanos

Early on Friday, Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos heard perhaps the worst news in his new ministerial term of office; the theft of ancient Greek artifacts from Olympia, which caused a hubbub in his office immediately.

Upon hearing the news, he immediately contacted Government representative Pantelis Kapsis. He informed him of what had happened, asked him to contact the PM and mentioned that his resignation was at the PM’s disposal. A few minutes later he prepared it in writing and sent it to the PM’s office.

Pavlos Geroulanos went to Olympia on Friday morning. There, accompanied by his colleagues Messrs Mendonis and Bazakis, he was informed on the theft of the artifacts and the evidence that could lead to the capture of the thieves, while he also had a long conversation with the police.

Meanwhile in Athens, the PM showed no inclination to replace the minister. At this critical juncture, shortly before the Eurogroup, he did not seem inclided to reshuffle the government, especially when the issue related to ministers. A similar position was adopted concerning Transport Minister Makis Voridis.

The theft is the second one that encumbers Pavlos Geroulanos’ tenure, one of the longest-serving Ministers of Culture. The first one was committed in the National Gallery a month ago. The robbers then grabbed a Pablo Picasso oil painting and a Mondrian painting.

When former minister Giorgos Floridis stated after giving up his MP seat that as a PM “you cannot make your gardener your Minister”, PASOK members thought of Mr. Geroulanos straight away. Thus the nickname stuck, and Geroulanos has been trying to get rid of it ever since.