Former Prime Minister George Papandreou has categorically denied any connection to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, labeling reports linking him to the sex offender as "slanderous" fake news.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Mr. Papandreou insisted he "never had any relationship or communication" with Epstein, dismissing the allegations as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
"The country has paid a heavy price from fake news and conspiracy theories that sought to obscure the real causes of the crisis," Mr. Papandreou wrote.
The statement also addressed criticism regarding his participation in a 2015 teleconference with Deutsche Bank investors.
The briefing occurred shortly after Greece's polarizing referendum, a time when the nation teetered on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
Mr. Papandreou defended the outreach as a "patriotic duty" undertaken to reassure markets and secure Greece’s position within the European Union.
He rejected attempts to frame the event as a "dark path," arguing that critics resort to character assassination because they cannot challenge policies that were "historically vindicated."
The denial comes as political polarization remains high in Athens, with the former Socialist leader warning that such smears distract from substantive debate.
"When they cannot hit the message, they hit the messenger," he said.