The leader of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, launched a sharp critique against the government’s handling of the OPEKEPE scandal, emphasizing that the Movement for Change will push forward with a proposal for a preliminary investigation into political figures involved. This evening, the party’s Political Coordination Center convened to determine its official stance on the issue.
Androulakis stated that PASOK will assess the real evidence with responsibility and proceed with formal investigative measures. ‘There is no “unfortunately we failed,” there is “unfortunately we got caught.” I saw this same pattern during the elections,’ he said, criticizing the administration’s conduct.
He accused the ruling New Democracy party of maintaining an ‘oligarchic system’ rooted in patronage networks established even before Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took office. PASOK aims to accelerate legal procedures to prevent potential crimes by public officials from being time-barred.
The party insists on forming a preliminary investigation committee rather than the parliamentary inquiry commission proposed by the government. According to sources, MPs have already decided that the roles of former ministers Lefteris Avgenakis and Makis Voridis require further scrutiny.
Leading the legal review teams will be Christos Kallamanis, Secretary of the Justice Department, and Haris Dimakarreas, head of the Parliamentary Group and a practicing attorney. Other key members, including Kostas Tsoukalas, Dimitris Mpiafgis, and Pavlos Christidis, are expected to analyze the 3,000-page indictment in shifts.
When asked whether MP Manolis Chnaris — a close aide to Androulakis — was implicated in the case, the party leader clarified that Chnaris does not appear in the indictment. Chnaris himself confirmed that his name is not mentioned in the documents and explained that he held no authority over veterinary services under regional units during his tenure.
Androulakis concluded by stating firmly that any PASOK member found involved in the scandal would be expelled from the party.