Long-term president of the private sector union umbrella GSEE Giannis Panagopoulos is under investigation by the country’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority for two felonies, embezzlement and money laundering.
According to state broadcaster ERT, Panagopoulos’ bank accounts have been frozen, while his membership to socialist PASOK has been temporary suspended until the case is resolved.
The accounts of six alleged accomplices and six companies have also been frozen.
The trade unionist is being investigated for embezzling large sums of money from national and European funds, as it is alleged that
in his capacity as the president of three vocational training and education centers and institutes, he embezzled huge sums of money intended for education and training programs.
According to ERT information, the funding, which exceeds the total amount of 73 million euros, was received in the period from 2020 to 2025.
According to the investigation of the independent authority, the trade unionist in question proceeded with direct assignments or assignments through tenders of public works to specific companies, as well as to other intermediary companies to which he channeled funds and which these companies alternated among themselves as contractors of the projects.
According to investigators, many of these contracts were never published on the government’s transparency portal, Diavgeia. Furthermore, the companies selected often lacked the staff or infrastructure to perform the work. In several instances, the businesses allegedly served as a “veil of legality” to move at least €577,000 through artificial transactions, daily kathimerini reported.
Financial tracers also highlighted alarmingly high cash withdrawals exceeding €1.5 million, as well as unexplained transfers into the personal accounts of individuals linked to the suspects.
A prosecutor has launched a preliminary inquiry. Panagopoulos and the other suspects will be summoned to provide testimony before the court decides whether to file formal criminal charges.
Panagopoulos first reaction
“There is also a difficult situation, you know, I will handle it with clarity and honesty”, Panagopoulos said in first public comment during a discussion in Parliament about collective bargains.
So far, there has been no official written statement by the unionist.
Unionist Giannis Panagopoulos has been elected GSEE president since 2008.
