Fifty people, among them eleven lawmakers from the ruling party New Democracy, have been summoned by the office of the European Prosecutor (EPPO) over the OPEKEPE fraud regarding EU agricultural subsidies in 2021.
As the investigation conducted by the Greek Delegated European Prosecutors is now entering its final stage, the 50 individuals will have to provide explanations in connection with the case.
The European prosecutors have summoned the non-political individuals on Thursday, while the MPs of the ruling party – whose parliamentary immunity was recently lifted – have been called to provide explanations in their capacity as suspects for possible criminal acts, tomorrow, Friday.
The summons to testify concerns alleged misdemeanor offenses for nine of the 11 MPs, whereas for two MPs the investigation relates to the possible commission of felonies.
All individuals under investigation have been summoned to provide unsworn statements to the European Delegated Prosecutors, Poppy Papandreou and Dionysis Mouzakis.
The procedure begins on Thursday with the non-politicians under investigation for breach of trust.
At the same time, the EPPO continues investigation for the years after 2021 and leaks to the press claim that more politicians of the ruling party are allegedly involved in the OPEKEPE scandal.
Meanwhile, EPPO chief Laura Kovesi sharply criticized the Greek Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis for attempting to clear the ND MPs in fast-track criminal proceedings.
Hardly was the news out, when Kovesi intervened saying that Floridis’ amendment was bypassing the European Public Prosecutor.
She expressed her particular concern and dissatisfaction with the amendment to “speed up” the trial of criminal cases involving MPs.
This is the dirtiest Greek government in decades. It is only the threat of going to the European Court of Justice that stopped them from covering up this massive theft, and removing the public prosecutors. Just disgusting and hypocritical in the extreme.