The European Public Prosecutor’s Office must decide “quickly” which of the Greek lawmakers it accuses of corruption will ultimately face criminal prosecution, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday.
The centre-right New Democracy government has been hit hard by another scandal involving 11 of its lawmakers, who are accused of cronyism in the distribution of EU farm subsidies for 2021.
On Wednesday, the EU’s chief prosecutor, Laura Kövesi, formally requested that the immunity of 11 Greek MPs from the ruling New Democracy party be lifted. Two former ministers are said to be implicated as well.
“I ask the European Public Prosecutor’s Office – after lifting the immunity of our lawmakers – to proceed swiftly with all investigative actions and determine whether, how many and which individuals it intends to prosecute,” Mitsotakis said in a televised address.
The EU prosecutor is investigating multiple issues in the Greek farm subsidies scandal
Multiple cases related to an investigation into Greek farm subsidies are ongoing, Europe’s chief prosecutor…
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The new case is expected to deal a heavy blow to the ruling party, given that its main pre-election promise was the fight against corruption. Moreover, it is unclear whether more cases will come, as Kövesi said Euractiv on May 24 that she was investigating “several cases” related to the matter.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis attacked Köves, calling the investigation “a direct political intervention in the country”.
“Not all cases the same”
The Greek leader noted that, from an initial review of the evidence, “it is clear that not all cases have the same weight.”
“One thing, however, is certain: none of our Members of Parliament is accused of having derived any financial benefit,” he added.
Local media published conversations obtained through legal wiretapping as part of the investigation, in which politicians allegedly asked the Greek payments agency OPEKEPE to give favors to farmers who were their constituents.
According to the leaked conversations, some politicians asked OPECPE to resolve technical issues affecting some farmers, while others allegedly went further – asking “to cut money from elsewhere and channel it so our people can get it”.
The opposition accused New Democracy of forming a “government of defendants” and called for early elections. Mitsotakis, however, ruled out such a scenario, stating that national elections will be held as planned in 2027.
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