FACTBOX-Scandals rock Greece's conservative government

May 9 (Reuters) - Greece's conservative government on Friday shut down parliament early, prompting protests from opposition parties which said the move was aimed at dismissing investigations into a series of scandals. [ID:nL8362426]

The government said the early closure was due to the June 7 European Parliament elections.

During its five years in power, the ruling New Democracy party has been shaken by scandals ranging from controversial land swaps between the state and a wealthy monastery to suspect government bond sales to state-run pension funds.

Here are the main scandals that have rocked the government:

* FERRY CONTRACTS - April 2009:

Greek lawmakers narrowly voted not to send a former minister to a special court over his alleged involvement in a shipping scandal after prosecutors passed the case to parliament. Ruling party deputy Aristotle Pavlides denied any wrongdoing in the case, brought to light by a shipowner who testified that the minister's aide demanded bribes to grant a contract to run subsidised Aegean island ferry routes.

* VATOPEDI SCANDAL - September 2008: