The storm hitting Maxima’s House over the OPKEPE scandal has left the government with only one option – to shed light on this corruption case. The public outrage stems from both the favoritism shown to a select group of farmers and livestock breeders, as well as the fines imposed on Greece that burden the national budget — in other words, all Greek taxpayers.
In the middle of its second term, and while the government had hoped for forward momentum after the political trauma of Tempi, it now faces new pressures that will inevitably affect opinion polls. The only way for the government to convince citizens of its determination to tackle decades-old issues related to agricultural subsidies is by exposing this festering scandal.
How? The government must prove in practice that arbitrary decisions — a common problem across administrations — can no longer dictate the distribution of EU agricultural funds. The revealing conversations that have surfaced are a disgrace to all involved.
A new framework of transparency is needed. Ideally, the discredited OPKEPE should be abolished and its functions integrated into the Independent Authority for Public Revenues (AADE). But more importantly, a full investigation into all aspects of this affair must begin immediately, tracing back through time, as this is a long-standing scandal that undermines political credibility and has cost the state billions in fines.
Responsibility must be assigned where it belongs. Therefore, establishing a Pre-Trial Committee with witness testimonies and accountability checks is essential — without any political manipulation by the opposition, but solely in pursuit of truth.
The government bears responsibility for investigating the matter, while the opposition must focus on uncovering facts and assigning blame without demagoguery or propaganda for short-term political gain.
Even if criminal liability has expired due to statute of limitations, identifying those responsible remains crucial — potentially even through an investigative committee.
At the same time, as the relationship between citizens and political parties is tested once again, it is the government’s duty to exhaust every legal avenue to ensure that the €415 million fine imposed by Brussels is not paid by ordinary citizens.
While difficult, the government claims optimism about reducing the fine via an appeal to the European Court. Regardless, justice demands that those who acted unlawfully bear the financial consequences — not the wider farming community through deductions from EU agricultural funds, nor the average taxpayer.
Still, it’s a complex equation. Initially, the money will come from the state budget. Only after lengthy administrative and judicial processes conclude — and those who illegally benefited are identified — can these ill-gotten gains be recovered.