Zeybek: “The OPEKEPE scandal and Government policies are driving farmers to extinction”
Hüseyin Zeybek, İskeçe MP for the New Left Party, strongly criticized the government’s agricultural policies and the OPEKEPE (Agricultural Support Agency) scandal during his speech in the Hellenic Parliament, warning that current policies are pushing farmers and the livestock sector to the brink of collapse. “We will not allow this,” Zeybek stated.
Describing Agriculture and Food Minister Kostas Tsiaras’ claim that “most farmers’ demands have been met” as detached from reality, Zeybek recalled that Greece has witnessed the largest agricultural protests of the past 20–30 years. He argued that attempts to portray the OPEKEPE scandal as a result of “long-standing structural problems” are misleading, stressing that key figures at the center of the scandal have been part of the “blue” party organization of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the New Democracy party since 2019.
Zeybek also drew attention to circles known publicly as the “Frappe group,” accused of threatening members of the judiciary, and referred to party officials associated with luxury lifestyles and unexplained wealth. He claimed that recent arrests point to a New Democracy executive—described as a former minister Avgenakis’ “protector”—as the alleged mastermind of the network, adding that the scandal expanded with the knowledge and consent of the Prime Minister’s Office (Maximos Mansion).
Livestock Farming in Thrace and Xanthi in Collapse
Zeybek emphasized that livestock farming in Thrace, and especially in Xanthi, is facing unprecedented devastation. Due to animal diseases, including sheep and goat plague, more than 150,000 animals have been culled in Thrace and Eastern Macedonia, while nationwide losses—caused by Storm Daniel and epidemics—have exceeded 600,000 small livestock.
He noted that whereas Xanthi once had 227 herds, only five remain today, calling it “shameful” that the minister devoted only a few lines to this dramatic situation in his speech.
Delayed and Incomplete Subsidy Payments
Zeybek stated that instead of the promised €580 million, only €363 million was paid out—€80 million of which was deducted by ELGA (the Agricultural Insurance Organization). Due to OPEKEPE’s failure to complete inspections on time, at least 45,000 producers received not a single euro, while 13,000 livestock farmers were left entirely without support. He added that thousands of producers approved for aid under Measure 23 are still awaiting payment.
Fuel and Electricity Support Insufficient
Despite soaring costs, Zeybek said that the budget allocated for agricultural fuel subsidies and excise tax refunds remained at just €56 million—lower than last year and only one-third of what the government had promised. He noted that 160,000 out of 270,000 farmers did not benefit from the refund at all.
“Farmers Are Not Asking for Privileges, but to Survive”
Zeybek underlined that farmers are not demanding extraordinary privileges, but simply the ability to survive. He warned that low producer prices and exorbitant consumer prices—driven by cartel-like market structures—are destroying production and the primary sector.
New Left Party’s Proposals
Zeybek outlined the New Left Party’s proposals as follows:
Reduction of VAT on basic food products
Guaranteed producer prices that reflect production costs
Fundamental reform of ELGA regulations and 100% compensation for all risks
Full compliance with EU Directive 2019/633
A cap of €0.07 per kWh on agricultural electricity
Co-financing of ELGA by producers, the state, and the EU
Expansion of Sub-measure 5.1 to include livestock farming
Advance payments to producers suffering major losses
Legalization of optional insurance and 100% compensation through supplementary coverage
Digitalization of damage assessments and implementation of a bonus–malus system
Concluding his speech, Zeybek called on the government to listen to the outcry of farmers and livestock breeders, stressing that the struggle will continue.
