The fear of their names appearing in a second major case concerning OPEKEPE, which seems imminent in Parliament, discouraged New Democracy (ND) MPs from agreeing to a proposal by colleagues to request a parliamentary investigation. The idea of submitting a joint petition was discussed among Karapanagiotis-aligned MPs over the weekend. By Sunday, discussions intensified. Many thought it was a good idea to express dissatisfaction with the government’s direction. However, since no MP from an agricultural region hasn’t called — not once, but multiple times — to secure favors for voters through OPEKEPE, second thoughts emerged, and they decided to delay any action.
“It makes no sense to ask the prime minister for explanations when we ourselves should be held accountable,” said one MP. The OPEKEPE mechanism had become so corrupted that even legitimate requests required approval from a criminal network.
Operation codenamed ‘Bring Back the Stolen’ is underway as part of the government’s effort to counteract the negative image created by the OPEKEPE scandal. Rolling polls show that unless stolen funds are returned, the government knows it won’t be able to send a strong message that things will truly change after the scandal.
A social backlash has begun forming. Honest farmers, who make up the majority, feel deeply wronged. They believe they received fewer subsidies than they were entitled to because the lion’s share went to the corrupt. A rift is growing, particularly between Crete and other rural regions. Another segment of society is outraged at farmers, believing all governments have long pampered them for votes.
In short, no one is satisfied with how the government is handling this issue. The rhetorical question remains unanswered: didn’t anyone notice anything over six years?
Minister of Rural Development Kostas Tsiaras has been holding continuous meetings with OPEKEPE officials, George Pitsilis from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), and members of the Financial Police who will play a key role in investigations. Immediate measures are being prepared for fund recovery, including cross-referencing data from invoices, livestock production, and milk output.
Thousands of suspicious tax identification numbers (AFMs) under scrutiny could lead to asset seizures for those unwilling or unable to return misused funds. Meanwhile, a new system based on objective criteria like production volume is set to be implemented to prevent future fraud.
Tomorrow, a delegation headed to Brussels includes close aides of Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis. During previous talks with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen, Greece coordinated on adopting systems that minimize abuse opportunities — though such loopholes exist across Europe.
A senior Maximos official admitted to NEWSIT that the government underestimated the OPEKEPE issue but stressed that now is the time for cleansing and systemic reform. Convincing the public requires tangible results, not just words.
Meanwhile, in a discreet Kolonaki café, MP Miltos Chrysomallis met with former PM aide Nikos Tsoutsias over coffee. Both agree that political moves remain unpredictable, especially regarding potential party formations.
Finally, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced he will meet former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, thanking her for helping block more aggressive plans to eject Greece from the Eurozone during the crisis years.