Zeybek attacks Schoinas over OPEKEPE payment crisis warning

Hüseyin Zeybek has criticized the Greek government over the situation at OPEKEPE, the agency responsible for managing agricultural payments, after Minister of Rural Development and Food Margaritis Schoinas said that Greece came “close to a suspension of OPEKEPE payments” last year.

Zeybek, an İskeçe MP, described the minister's statement as a serious admission that requires the government to provide explanations to farmers and Greek society.

According to Zeybek, the statement indicates that the country's agricultural payment system came close to collapse after seven years of New Democracy government, while OPEKEPE remained under the government's political supervision.

The MP questioned how the payment system reached such a critical point and called for clarification over who was politically responsible, who was aware of the problems and what actions were taken to prevent a potential disruption of agricultural subsidies.

Zeybek also referred to allegations and public controversy surrounding individuals described in the political debate by nicknames such as “Frapes” and “Butcher,” as well as the figure dubbed the “farmer with the Porsche.” He argued that such cases raise questions about preferential treatment within the agricultural subsidy system while genuine producers continue to wait for their payments.

The İskeçe MP further questioned how an EU member state could reach a point where it risked being unable to make agricultural payments to its producers.

“The government cannot now present itself as the savior,” Zeybek said, arguing that the current administration should bear political responsibility for problems that, in his view, developed during its own period in government.

His comments come amid continued political scrutiny of OPEKEPE and the management of agricultural subsidies in Greece, with opposition parties pressing the government for greater transparency and accountability over the payment system.