Government Vows Action on OPEKEPE Scandal
The OPEKEPE scandal remains unresolved despite government efforts to reform the Greek agency responsible for distributing EU agricultural subsidies, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said in a televised interview on Saturday, CE Report quotes Athens-Macedonia
Speaking on SKAI TV’s “Dekatiani,” Marinakis acknowledged that while corruption had been curbed in areas such as tax offices and prisons, recovering stolen funds from OPEKEPE remains complex due to the need to continue payments to over 650,000 legitimate recipients.
He noted that Greece has paid €2.7 billion in fines up to 2019 due to mismanagement in the sector and acknowledged farmers' frustration. Marinakis said a full parliamentary inquiry dating back to the founding of OPEKEPE in 2001 is needed to address long-standing issues of partisanship and clientelism.
The spokesperson stressed that all governments, including New Democracy, must be scrutinized. He also criticized opposition parties, particularly PASOK, for their approach to the matter.
Marinakis also addressed other current issues, including ATM fees, student housing support, wildfire season readiness, and the upcoming Thessaloniki International Fair.
