Ex-Finance Minister Faces Prison for 40-Year-Old Drug Admission
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Yanis Varoufakis, a prominent Greek economist and former finance minister, is being prosecuted for allegedly encouraging drug use. The charge comes after he publicly admitted taking an ecstasy pill four decades ago.
The 64-year-old described the case as "ridiculous." He was formally charged with "inciting others in the illegal use of narcotics" based on his comments during a podcast.
If found guilty, Varoufakis could face at least six months in prison and a fine of up to €500,000. A court hearing is set for December.
Varoufakis claims the indictment signals a far-right shift in Western politics. He served as Greece's finance minister for five months in 2015.