No Greek Parliament Consensus On Monastery Scandal

The scandal contributed to public discontent fuelling week-long riots sparked initially by the police killing of a teenager on Dec. 6.

A Greek parliamentary investigation into suspect land deals between the state and a wealthy monastery failed to reach agreement on who is to blame for a scandal that cost two ministers their jobs.

The scandal contributed to public discontent fuelling week-long riots sparked initially by the police killing of a teenager on Dec. 6.

The parliament investigating committee examined scores of witnesses and documents over 45 days but the main political parties issued their own conclusions, shedding some light on the case but taking no further steps to lift politicians' immunity.

They were investigating why the wealthy Vatopedi monastery on Mount Athos got prime, state-owned real estate in exchange for cheap rural land. Two ministers have resigned over a property swap estimated to have cost the state millions of euros.

The conservative government, clinging to a one-seat majority, admitted some political responsibility but said it was limited to ministers not properly overseeing subordinates.

"The findings show clearly and beyond any doubt that there is no criminal responsibility," said government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros.

The main socialist PASOK opposition called for a further, criminal investigation, saying Greek taxpayers lost one billion euros in land value in the swap.

Anger at a series of scandals since New Democracy swept to power in 2004 pledging to clean up Greek politics, along with misfiring economic measures as the global crisis bites, have fuelled Greece's worst riots in decades.

Youths clashed with police, wrecked shops, cars and banks in more than 10 Greek cities and the violence spread abroad to Greek embassies.

Analysts say unresolved scandals -- from wire tapping to selling overpriced state bonds to pension funds -- add to perceptions of corruption in Greece, which ranks worst among euro zone countries on Transparency International's index.

Scandals and unpopular economic policies have eroded public support for the government, with the Socialists leading for the first time in years in opinion polls.

"Vatopedi is the most serious scandal in our country. Not only for the squandering of public money and property but also because, perhaps for the first time, it showed clearly how organised interests plunder Greek society," said the Left Coalition party.