The European Chief Prosecutor has called for the lifting of parliamentary immunity for 11 Greek lawmakers to facilitate a probe into a farm aid fraud scandal that has shaken Greece’s political landscape. This request comes in the wake of a series of charges brought against Greek stockbreeders last year.
Prosecutors allege that these individuals faked ownership of livestock and pasturelands to fraudulently claim millions in EU financial aid. Consequently, Greece was fined 392 million euros by the EU in June for mismanagement by the OPEKEPE agency, which oversees EU farm subsidies amounting to over 2 billion euros annually.
The scandal has already prompted resignations from a minister and four senior officials of the ruling New Democracy party. As the investigation could lead to additional political ramifications, the Chief Prosecutor emphasized the need for a thorough probe into the possible involvement of a former rural development minister and his deputy.
(With inputs from agencies.)