“Bananas on Olympus, fields at the post office: Fraud is systematic”
On Tuesday, July 29, MP Özgür Ferhat of the New Left Party, representing Rodopi, delivered a powerful speech in parliament, declaring that the OPEKEPE (Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid) scandal is not a mere administrative failure but a systematic network of corruption and organized crime.
Ferhat condemned the blatant disregard for public funds, the dignity of producers, and rural farmers, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond the agricultural sector and threatens the integrity of the entire public system.
Rodopi's Tobacco Farmers and Livestock Breeders Left Behind
Ferhat pointed out that tobacco producers and livestock breeders in Rodopi have been excluded from state support for years without justification, despite being heavily affected by the climate crisis. He noted that, even after repeated warnings, written parliamentary questions, and damage assessments by the Agricultural Directorate, these farmers were not included in subsidy programs.
“Support went not to the real producers who work their fields and care for their animals, but to those submitting fake documents. This is a clear injustice,” Ferhat stated.
“Frape” and “Butcher” at the Heart of Corruption
In his speech, Ferhat named two government-aligned farmers, nicknamed “Frape” and “Butcher”, as key figures in the corruption scheme. He exposed the use of fake lease contracts, fictitious animal declarations, and nonexistent farmland to fraudulently obtain large sums of money.
In one case, he revealed that a single farmer's herd reportedly jumped from 4,875 to 54,681 animals in just four years.
“This growth isn’t even possible in Europe’s largest farms. But in this system, everything is possible,” Ferhat said.
“Bananas on Mount Olympus, fields in the post office — fraud is systematic.”
False Crop Claims Across the Country
Ferhat detailed further fraudulent activity, such as false claims of banana and melon cultivation on Mount Olympus—a mountainous area unfit for agriculture—and claims of cotton farming in Crete and Florina to access EU funds. He noted that even ELTA post office buildings were listed as farmland in subsidy applications.
“This isn’t an isolated flaw; it’s a nationwide organized deception.”
Abattoirs Closed, Rural Exodus Accelerates
Ferhat criticized the closure of abattoirs in Gümülcine and Şapçı, which left local farmers unable to process meat or sell milk. He also noted that vaccination of animals was banned, local production dropped, and imports increased sharply.
Calls for Accountability
Ferhat called for investigations into former Agriculture Ministers Lefteris Avgenakis and Makis Voridis, accusing them of abuse of power and complicity. He criticized the National Transparency Authority for failing to carry out audits and questioned why legal proceedings in some regions were hidden from the public, despite convictions already being issued in areas like Fthiotida, Karditsa, and Lakonia.
“We Are the Voice of the Land’s People”
Concluding his speech with an address to the people of Rodopi, Ferhat declared:
“I am from Rodopi. I know what these people are going through. This case cannot be covered up. OPEKEPE may be shut down, but it will never be erased from memory. We will not remain silent until justice is served to the real producers.”
