The PASOK party has launched a sharp political attack against the government amid recent judicial developments in the OPEKEPE case—the Greek Organization for Agricultural Insurance. The move follows a unanimous ruling by Athens’ Three-Member Misdemeanor Court convicting former OPEKEPE president Dimitris Melas and former director Athanasia Repa.
A Judicial Verdict
The court found Melas—also a former New Democracy European Parliament candidate—and Repa guilty of harboring a criminal and breach of duty. Both received prison sentences of five years and eight months. Regarding the charge of document forgery, prosecutors upgraded it to a felony, leading the court to refer the case to the Athens Court of Appeals for Felonies.
‘Blue-Collar Scandal’ and ‘Corruption Party’
PASOK labeled the affair a “blue-collar scandal,” arguing the verdict confirms a systemic misuse of EU agricultural funds—harming honest farmers and taxpayers alike. In its official statement, the party stressed that the ruling bears “the stamp of justice,” validating its long-standing claims about corruption during New Democracy’s oversight of OPEKEPE.
Speaking at the party’s headquarters on Charilaou Trikoupi Street, PASOK officials described the episode as a “corruption party” and emphasized that the €1 billion fine imposed on Greece—due to mismanagement—will ultimately be borne by law-abiding farmers and citizens.