New investigation targets 10 MPs amid ongoing OPEKEPE subsidy scandal

Greece’s illegal subsidy scandal involving the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid (OPEKEPE) continues to unfold, with reports indicating a second investigation may soon target ten Members of Parliament, mainly from the ruling party, though others could also be implicated.

According to sources, the case file is expected to be submitted to Parliament in September. The developments could pave the way for the formation of a Preliminary Investigation or Special Committee, with potential resignations or expulsions looming.

The investigation draws on evidence from legally authorized phone taps, tax records, and witness statements, revealing political interference in subsidy applications, including possibly illegal procedures. Unlike ministers, MPs are not protected under the ministerial responsibility law, allowing the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to summon them immediately if Parliament lifts their immunity.

The scandal extends beyond politicians. Authorities have uncovered subsidy applications using deceased taxpayers’ identification numbers—even dating back more than a decade—and falsified lease agreements enabling “heirs” to collect EU funds. In Crete and Euboea, individual cases involved illegal amounts reaching €600,000.

Adding to the controversy is the resignation of Kalliopi Semertzidou, coordinator of Community Resources for the ruling party, whose name reportedly appears in the scrutinized subsidies. The case also involves a property she sold, now hosting an agricultural company led by a former OPEKEPE president.

Meanwhile, Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has seized servers and launched asset investigations, with the probe extending back to 2015.