The Greek government has announced a series of ministerial and party-level changes following resignations linked to the OPEKEPE farm subsidy scandal, as two case files concerning political figures were forwarded to Parliament by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO).
Former European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas, from Thessaloniki, has been appointed Minister of Rural Development and Food, replacing Kostas Tsiaras. The new deputy minister is Kavala MP Makarios Lazaridis, replacing Larissa MP Christos Kellas.
Read more: EU prosecutor seeks lifting of immunity for 11 Greek MPs in farm subsidies probe
Additionally, Evangelos Tournas takes over the role previously held by Giannis Kefalogiannis at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. The responsibilities of Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos, who oversaw mental health, will be redistributed within the ministry. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, 4 April at 11:00, in the presence of President of the Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas.
Further political changes have also been announced, as Kostas Skrekas has resigned as secretary of New Democracy and will be replaced by Stelios Kontadakis, who will serve until the party's 14th Congress in May, when an internal party election is expected. Notis Mitarakis has also resigned from his position as parliamentary representative.
The developments follow the submission of two case files to Parliament related to OPEKEPE. These concern 11 sitting New Democracy MPs, for whom the lifting of parliamentary immunity is being considered, as well as an investigation into a former minister and a former deputy minister of Rural Development.
According to the first case file, the 11 MPs include now resigned ministers Kostas Tsiaras and Ioannis Kefalogiannis. The remaining nine named are Kostas Karamanlis, Kostas Skrekas, Katerina Papakosta, Notis Mitarakis, Dimitris Vartzopoulos, Maximos Senetakis, Vasileios Vasileiadis, Christos Boukoros, and Theofilos Leontaridis.
The second case file involves former Rural Development Minister Spilios Livanos and former deputy minister Fotini Arabatzi, who are being investigated for potential offences committed in the course of their duties. Under Article 86 of the Greek Constitution, if evidence emerges during an investigation suggesting possible offences by ministers while in office, the material must be transmitted to Parliament, even if the individuals no longer serve.
Five former MPs are also under investigation in connection with the case. As they are no longer in Parliament, there is no need to follow a procedure to lift their immunity. A third case file, involving Charalambos Athanasiou and Tasos Chatzivasileiou, is expected to be forwarded to Parliament after Easter.
The MPs are being investigated for alleged interference in the management and allocation of agricultural subsidies. In an announcement, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) said the case concerns suspected offences affecting the EU's financial interests, including incitement to breach of trust, electronic fraud and false certification aimed at securing illegal benefits for third parties. The EPPO adds that the case relates to a "possible organised fraud scheme". The case concerns the period 2021-2022, during Dimitris Mellas's presidency at OPEKEPE.
The Internal Affairs Service of the Hellenic Police had previously lifted telephone confidentiality for the individuals under investigation. Over the past six months, the Financial Prosecutor's Office analysed the material obtained and compiled a report, which was forwarded to the EPPO, now expected to initiate a preliminary investigation.
