European Prosecutors Name 13 Greek Politicians Under Investigation

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has submitted a case file concerning the alleged subsidy scandal linked to OPEKEPE, naming eleven sitting ministers, deputy ministers and Members of Parliament affiliated with New Democracy, as well as two former ministers.

Authorities are seeking the lifting of parliamentary immunity for the sitting MPs in order to proceed with further investigation into suspected irregularities involving agricultural subsidies that may have affected the financial interests of the European Union.

Politicians named in the case file

The following active MPs and ministers are included in the investigation:

• Maximos Senetakis, MP for Heraklion and former Deputy Development Minister
• Vasilis Vasileiadis, MP for Pella
• Giannis Kefalogiannis, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
• Notis Mitarakis, MP for Chios and former minister
• Katerina Papakosta, Deputy Minister of Social Cohesion and Family
• Kostas Karamanlis, former Minister of Transport
• Christos Boukoros, MP
• Theofilos Leontaridis, MP for Serres and former Deputy Minister
• Kostas Tsiaras, Minister of Rural Development
• Kostas Skrekas, MP and former Development Minister
• Dimitris Vartzopoulos, Deputy Minister of Health

Two former ministers, Spilios Livanos and Foteini Arabatzi, are also included in the file. As they were members of the government during the period under examination, their cases fall under constitutional provisions on ministerial responsibility and have been forwarded to the Hellenic Parliament for further action.

Focus of the investigation

According to the findings of European prosecutors, the case concerns possible clientelist interventions linked to the allocation of agricultural subsidies, which may have resulted in unlawful payments and potential damage to the financial interests of the European Union.

The investigation reportedly focuses on actions dating back to 2021. Due to legal provisions governing ministerial responsibility, parts of the case file have been transmitted to Parliament, which will decide on the next procedural steps.

The development is expected to have political implications, as discussions intensify regarding possible government responses and potential institutional actions.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office continues its examination of the case, while further developments are anticipated once parliamentary procedures begin.