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Subsidise this: Fraud scandal delivers new blow to Greek PM
Anyone hoping for a calm summer in Greece just had their hopes dashed. A political storm is engulfing Athens, with four government officials already ousted amid a deepening scandal tied to the misuse of EU agricultural funds.
At the heart of the storm is OPEKEPE—the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid. An explosive investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has uncovered what appears to be sweeping fraud in how EU subsidies were handled. Some experts warn the financial fallout could stretch into the hundreds of millions of euros.
The EPPO has handed over its finding, based in part on legally sanctioned surveillance, to the Greek Parliament. Lawmakers now face a critical decision: whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of more than a dozen politicians named in the case so formal charges can be brought.
Among those implicated are former agricultural development ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. Voridis, who had most recently served as migration minister, resigned on June 27, while firmly denying any wrongdoing. Three deputy ministers also stepped down.
This latest crisis couldn’t come at a worse time for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Still reeling from the public backlash earlier this year over his administration’s handling of the Tempe train disaster, he now finds himself back on the defensive.
So what does this mean for the future of the Mitsotakis government, and for Greek politics as a whole? Could this be the spark that sets off snap elections?
To dig into the implications of Greece’s newest political convulsion, The Agora welcomed MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou for a deep dive into what may be a defining moment for the summer, and beyond.
Useful reading
The big fat Greek plot to defraud the EU – Politico
Prosecutor implicates two Greek ministers in huge EU farm fraud – Politico
EU funds way to get fickle farmers’ vote – Kathimerini
OPEKEPE: The scandal that keeps on giving – Kathimerini
OPEKEPE: The bowl with honey – Inside Story
The country that watched the goats go by – Inside Story
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