by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, Feb. 27 ((Xinhua) -- Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou rendered his resignation on Tuesday along his wife Rania Antonopoulou, who served as Deputy Labor and Social Solidarity Minister, over a state subsidy they received to rent an apartment in Athens.

Both resignations were accepted by Greek Minister Alexis Tsipras, according to e-mailed statements released from his office, after the strong reactions of the opposition parties, local media and citizens on the streets.

Both multi-millionaire professors in universities in the United States, according to their income declarations which have been made public, Papadimitriou and Antonopoulou moved to Athens and served in the government since the Left-led ruling coalition assumed office three years ago.

Based on a 2015 law which stipulates that non-parliamentary members of the government can receive a residence allowance if they do not have a privately owned residence in Athens, Antonopoulou had been receiving 1,000 euros per month in state rent subsidy, a Greek daily revealed this weekend.

Although legally there was no issue, the couple was strongly criticized for receiving the subsidy while the country was teetering at the brink of default.

On Monday evening Antonopoulou stepped down followed by her husband a few hours later, triggering scenarios of a cabinet reshuffle in coming days.