“Everyone will be faced with criminal responsibilities”
“Biological production programs avoid being controlled and then” disappear “,” the Minister of Rural Development and Food revealed, Costas Tsiaras, emphasizing that the checks are continuing normally.
At the same time, he sent a message of zero tolerance for illegal aid from OPEKEPE, Clear that everyone will go back the money. “Everyone will be faced with criminal responsibilities and this is a clear position,” he added.
Speaking on ERT’s “Connections” and Costas Papachliminzo, the Minister of Rural Development and Food also described the depth of the problem, accusing those who are exploiting the case by the opposition.
He reiterated that the prime minister’s political mandate is clear: to restore OPEKEPE’s credibility and end the opacity of decades.
In particular, Mr Tsiaras stressed that extensive controls on biological aid and ecological regimens are underway through ELGO and the relevant Services of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning.
In fact, he revealed that there has been a “huge number of departures” from organic beekeeping and biological livestock farming.. As he noted, the auditors “disappear” when the audit began by the competent services, which he described as a “big issue”.
He also recalled that, by his personal decision, payments to organic beekeeping and biological livestock were suspended.
Mr Tsiaras made it clear that he would not make any payment, “if we have not ensured that money is given to those who are truly entitled to.”
Speaking about the presence of the Financial Police at OPEKEPE, the minister said that for about three weeks he had been giving up data and this resulted in payments that were launched in the end of June that they had not yet taken place. The first payment was made just a few days ago, last Friday, and the minister expressed optimism that, next time, “we will enter a number of significant payments”.
Mr Tsiaras assured that the government was not hiding and would not cover anyone: “We did not refuse to set up an Inquiry Committee and to investigate any liability if information arises. We will not hide behind our finger. Obviously we will go to pre -trial, if evidence arises. “ And he attributed “small -party feasibility” to the opposition’s objections, noting that they know that “if there is a report of ministers, the case file is forwarded to the House”.
Finally, he reiterated his fixed personal position that it is wrong for Members to assume the role of a self -sufficient judge.
In closing, the Minister of Rural Development noted that, from the first moment, when Kyriakos Mitsotakis phoned him, to assign him the duties of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, his mandate was clear: “Clear the image of OPEKEPE”.
As he commented, this is the political initiative, this is the political will “and that is what we have said in every direction”.