At a time when SYRIZA is seeking allies to submit a proposal for a preliminary investigation committee regarding the OPEKEPE scandal, party leader Sokratis Famellos launched a fierce attack against the government and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Speaking in Parliament and at the Economist conference, Famellos stated bluntly, ‘Our country does not deserve such a prime minister,’ describing Mitsotakis as ‘completely delegitimized’ and saying that ‘no one believes him anymore.’
Famellos emphasized that a parliamentary investigation committee is necessary to prevent the government from covering up the scandal. He insisted that all aspects of the case must be investigated thoroughly and announced that SYRIZA will submit its own proposal because it is their responsibility. ‘This is the first essential step, but it’s not enough,’ he said, adding that both Mitsotakis and his government must resign, given the severity of the allegations detailed in the indictment.
Despite these calls, cooperation with other opposition parties remains uncertain. The Greek Left maintains that investigative committees are ineffective in uncovering truth, while PASOK has decided to proceed independently with its own motion. Additionally, SYRIZA leadership remains cautious about New Democracy’s stance, suspecting an attempt to implicate former governments, including that of Alexis Tsipras.
Famellos also accused the prime minister of attempting to diffuse accountability, questioning who he actually refers to since only members of his political circle are implicated in the scandal. He described the situation as a ‘blatant vote manipulation scheme,’ suggesting that funds meant for Greek farmers were misused to secure votes ahead of the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, internal tensions have surfaced within SYRIZA following controversial comments by Euro-MP Nikos Farantouris, who proposed forming a special-purpose government focused on cleansing corruption. This contradicts SYRIZA’s official position, which advocates for a preliminary inquiry followed by early elections. Party sources reaffirmed that any alternative proposals do not represent the official stance of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance.