The Black Pen

DATAMED "bomb" for Christodoulakis – Adonis Georgiadis opens the file, PASOK's No. 2 under scrutiny

Christodoulakis PASOK Greece Adonis Georgiadis DATAMED tags :
DATAMED
 Revelations continue regarding Christodoulakis – Datamed a recipient of public works, increased its turnover while he was No. 2 at PASOK.
 The controversy surrounding the family-owned company DATAMED and PASOK MP Manolis Christodoulakis is now acquiring the dimensions of a political conflict, as "Dimokratia" returns with a new report focusing not only on the company's contracts with the state, but also on the MP's personal role within the family business over previous years. According to the newspaper's latest publication, Manolis Christodoulakis, during the period he held the position of secretary of PASOK, simultaneously maintained an institutional role at DATAMED, reportedly serving as a board member and, from 2018 to 2023, as vice president and managing director of the company. His resignation from the management of DATAMED, according to the same report, occurred upon his election to parliament. Insiders in the case emphasize that while serving as secretary of PASOK, he also held a crucial executive role in a company negotiating public contracts worth millions of euros. This element has now become one of the central points of political friction, as the debate extends beyond the contracts DATAMED concluded with state entities and the Mitsotakis government to whether the MP's former business capacity was compatible with his position as No. 2 of PASOK. "Dimokratia" connects this issue to the evolution of the company's turnover, citing financial statement data and asserting a significant increase in recent years. Indeed, BN holds documentation confirming Dimokratia's investigation.

The initial revelation regarding the €9 million

The case originated with a report by "Dimokratia," claiming that DATAMED had received public contracts totaling approximately €9 million, including VAT, across more than 170 agreements since 2019. At the center of attention is the fact that the company's president and CEO is the father of Manolis Christodoulakis, while his brother serves on the board of directors. The newspaper raised questions about the allocation methods of specific projects, highlighting direct awards and negotiation procedures without prior publication. Christodoulakis reacted strongly, criticizing what he termed personal targeting, and proceeded with legal notices against the newspaper, while pointing to the company itself for clarification on financial details.

DATAMED's response and the procurement issue

The company, for its part, rejected allegations of preferential treatment. It maintains that it has operated for decades in health informatics, and that a major portion of post-2020 contracts involves maintenance, technical support, upgrades, and system interconnections installed in previous periods following competitive tender processes. Regarding negotiation procedures without prior publication, DATAMED asserts they relate to the technical specificity of existing installations and necessary ongoing support. Furthermore, it noted that only one contract was executed via direct award, during the pandemic under urgent conditions. However, the issue remains that its position has fostered a market monopoly, leading critics to cite Christodoulakis' institutional role as a factor in the firm's expansion. Indeed, as revealed by Adonis Georgiadis, the company secured contracts not only from the Ministry of Health, but also from the Ministry of National Defense and other Greek public entities.

Georgiadis' intervention and the updated figures

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis intervened in the case, seeking to dismantle the claim of €9 million solely from the Ministry of Health. He argued that reports conflated distinct contracting authorities, different timeframes, joint venture contract values, and subcontracting shares. He detailed specific figures, arguing that from 2020 to date, the total contractual value of these projects stands at €4,830,566.44, involving multiple entities rather than exclusively the Ministry of Health. His breakdown included €1,017,334.63 for the Ministry of National Defense and military hospitals, €2,667,702.61 for seven public hospitals, and €775,029.20 from two contracts with IDIKA, along with additional agreements valued at €370,500 with autonomous health authorities.

The new front: Christodoulakis' role at DATAMED

The new revelation by "Dimokratia" elevates the discussion to a different level. It no longer involves merely contract totals, but the finding that Christodoulakis maintained an active managerial role in the family firm while occupying a top political party position. The political question now raised is whether holding these dual roles constitutes an ethics issue, particularly for a young politician aspiring to lead PASOK, and for a party aiming to reclaim its moral high ground and return to power.

Maximilianos
www.bankingnews.gr

Latest Stories

Readers’ Comments

Also Read