Her case file Prosecutor for them OPECEPE Rural Subsidies He was forwarded to Parliament, causing political mobility and public dialogue. At the center are the Former Ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakiswith the Public Prosecutor’s request to examine the possibility of being criminal responsibility.
According to Sources of the Maximus Grandthe government will comment on the content of the case file only after studying it in detailin contrast – as noted – with the oppositionrushed to take a position without having access to full material.
Institutional process and constitutional prediction
It is recalled that on the basis of Article 86 of the Constitutioneach case file that includes political persons transmitted to the House without prior evaluation by justiceto decide whether there is a reason for further investigation.
Government stance and reform of OPEKEPE
The government admits the timelessness of problems in OPECEPEstressing how Its absorption by AADE joins the resolution and transparency strategy. The independent authority, as emphasized, ‘works with reliability and effectiveness».
At the same time, government sources point out that Subsidiary mismanagement has pastbringing to the forefront scandals on PASOK governmentswhile responding to SYRIZA criticismrecall that For days the road to granting rights to grazing without animals has been openedarrangement that was abolished by the New Democracy.
The first reactions of Voridis and Avgenaki
Maki Voridis’ post:
“On the OPECEPE case file to be transmitted to the House and the rumored involvement of my name to it: Because I know very well what I have done as a Minister of Rural Development, I do not have to wait to know what this case file is dealing with.
I have not been committed by the exercise of my duties.
These are here.
The rest as soon as I get knowledge of the case file. “
Avgenakis for OPEKEPE: “I did my duties with transparency and conscience”
“As Minister of Rural Development and Food I have exercised my duties with transparency and conscience,” said former ND MP, Lefteris Avgenakis by posting to X, after the transmission of the OPECEPE case file to Parliament.
“Justice is doing its job unaffected. We are all equal to the law, ”Mr. Avgenakis notes.
In its announcement, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office states, inter alia:
Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) referred information to the Greek Parliament on the alleged involvement of two former Ministers of Rural Development and Food on criminal offenses. The Constitution of Greece stipulates that only the national parliament has the power to investigate and prosecute in active or even former members of the Greek government.
As mentioned earlier, EPPO is conducting an investigation into a alleged organized fraud plan for agricultural funds and corruption involving civil servants of the Hellenic Payment Agency and Control of Community Aid and Guarantee Aid (OPECEPE). During this investigation, information has emerged about the possible involvement of two former ministers in assisting and incitement to embezzlement (infringement) of the EU agricultural funds in the exercise of their official duties.
According to Article 86 of the Hellenic Constitution, if during the investigation there is evidence related to offenses committed by ministers in the exercise of their duties, even if they then leave their position, they should be forwarded immediately to Parliament. This makes it impossible to fully carry out the duties of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and forces the secession of its ongoing investigation into the possible criminal liability of members of the Greek government.