Marios Matsakis
Encyclopedia
Marios Matsakis is a Cypriot
politician and former Member of the European Parliament
for the Democratic Party
, and sat with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
group. Although a medical doctor by profession, he became involved in politics in the mid-1990s and has sparked controversy on several occasions. Marios Matsakis announced on 29 December 2007 that he would run for president in the 2008 Cypriot presidential elections
. He gained 0.77% coming fourth behind the three main candidates.
in 1976 with a B.Sc. in microbiology and was awarded a Ph.D in biochemistry
in 1981. He was awarded his medical degree
from the University of Cambridge
in 1984 and specialised in forensic medicine at the University of Glasgow
where he was awarded an MPhil in 1992. He then moved to Greece where he continued his studies in forensic pathology. He returned to Cyprus in 1994. At first he assumed a position in the medical field but he soon became interested in politics and was elected as an MP in 1996.
had been raided twice during the week by police and CID officials. Matsakis will be accused of smuggling antiquities. The newspaper described the raid with the words (quote) Enough chests, amphoras and other artifacts for three antique stores were yesterday hauled away from the Pyrga home of MEP Marios Matsakis by police, in the second such raid in a week. (unquote). The first raid took place on 23 October 2005. Matsiakis can be prosecuted under Cypriot law, as the European Parliament
lifted his immunity earlier in the month.
Matsakis will also be charged with attempts to blackmail a Drug Squard officer in an unrelated case. Police officials found more than 110 chests and hundreds of Grecian urns
on his property.
At all times Matsakis was claiming to be innocent. He also said that "It looks like some people do not want my voice to be heard in Cyprus or Europe".
Marios Matsakis on November 2005 went to a Turkish military post and removed the Turkish flag. He was arrested on 31 December by the outlaw police of Turkish Cypriots but he was finally released after signing a document saying that he will appear to the outlaw Turkish Cypriot court few days later. He never showed up.
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
politician and former Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Cyprus)
The Democratic Party is a centrist political party in Cyprus, founded in 1976 by Spyros Kyprianou. As it is reported in its founding statement , the Democratic Party proposes to the Cypriot society the political philosophy of "social centrism", which constitutes “a total of attributes and values...
, and sat with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe is a transnational alliance between two European political parties: the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party. It has political groups in the European Parliament, the EU Committee of the Regions, the...
group. Although a medical doctor by profession, he became involved in politics in the mid-1990s and has sparked controversy on several occasions. Marios Matsakis announced on 29 December 2007 that he would run for president in the 2008 Cypriot presidential elections
Cypriot presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Cyprus on 17 February 2008, with the second round held on 24 February 2008. The second-round winner, and thus the President of Cyprus for the next term, is Dimitris Christofias....
. He gained 0.77% coming fourth behind the three main candidates.
Education
He graduated from the University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1976 with a B.Sc. in microbiology and was awarded a Ph.D in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
in 1981. He was awarded his medical degree
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
in 1984 and specialised in forensic medicine at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
where he was awarded an MPhil in 1992. He then moved to Greece where he continued his studies in forensic pathology. He returned to Cyprus in 1994. At first he assumed a position in the medical field but he soon became interested in politics and was elected as an MP in 1996.
Smuggling claims
On 30 October 2005, Cyprus Mail, a leading newspaper, reported that Matsiakis' home in PyrgaPyrga, Larnaca
Pyrga is a village in the Larnaca District of Cyprus, located on 4 km east of Kornos....
had been raided twice during the week by police and CID officials. Matsakis will be accused of smuggling antiquities. The newspaper described the raid with the words (quote) Enough chests, amphoras and other artifacts for three antique stores were yesterday hauled away from the Pyrga home of MEP Marios Matsakis by police, in the second such raid in a week. (unquote). The first raid took place on 23 October 2005. Matsiakis can be prosecuted under Cypriot law, as the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
lifted his immunity earlier in the month.
Matsakis will also be charged with attempts to blackmail a Drug Squard officer in an unrelated case. Police officials found more than 110 chests and hundreds of Grecian urns
Pottery of Ancient Greece
As the result of its relative durability, pottery is a large part of the archaeological record of Ancient Greece, and because there is so much of it it has exerted a disproportionately large influence on our understanding of Greek society...
on his property.
At all times Matsakis was claiming to be innocent. He also said that "It looks like some people do not want my voice to be heard in Cyprus or Europe".
Inquiry of Allegations
Cyprus mail reported on 22 Aug 2007 that all cases against Dr. Matsakis collapsed and the name of maverick MEP Marios Matsakis has finally been cleared. The MEP called for an independent inquiry to examine possible Police irregularities and to identify suspected political motives for the initiation of the whole affair which started only 3 days after Dr. Matsakis was elected as a Member of the European Parliament representing Cyprus.Vindication
After two years of having his name dragged through the mud, MEP Marios Matsakis emerged vindicated this week after the authorities returned 250 items that were confiscated from his home. The Attorney General of Cyprus after studying the case decided that no charge could be brought against Dr. Matsakis and all items seized from his home 2 years ago were returned to him.2005 Lowering the Turkish flag in Louroujina
Marios Matsakis on November 2005 went to a Turkish military post and removed the Turkish flag. He was arrested on 31 December by the police of Turkish Cypriots but he was finally released after signing a document saying that he will appear to the Turkish Cypriot Court few days later. He never showed up.Marios Matsakis on November 2005 went to a Turkish military post and removed the Turkish flag. He was arrested on 31 December by the outlaw police of Turkish Cypriots but he was finally released after signing a document saying that he will appear to the outlaw Turkish Cypriot court few days later. He never showed up.
External links
- Cyprus Mail, internet edition, 30 October 2005: Matsakis raided for the second time
- Cyprus Mail, internet edition, 25 October 2005: Police seize 110 chests from Matsakis home
- Cyprus Mail, internet edition, 19 October 2005: Police question Matsakis in four-hour interrogation
- Cyprus Mail, internet edition, 13 October 2005: Matsakis immunity officially lifted
- BBC News, 12 April 2007: "MEP arrested at UK base in Cyprus"