Latest news with #MakisVoridis
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Greek PM vows to investigate €290m EU farming subsidy fraud scandal
The Greek prime minister has vowed to get to the bottom of how a scheme of fraudulent EU subsidy claims could have operated undetected in the country for years, as he admitted that the scandal had revealed 'the state's inadequacy' in dealing with corruption. Faced with revelations that 'fake' farmers had been scamming designated agricultural funds to the tune of a reputed €290m (£249m), Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday a special taskforce would be set up to 'immediately and exhaustively' investigate the illegal payments. The far-reaching scandal has already prompted the resignation of five senior government officials. One was the migration minister, Makis Voridis, a former far-right activist and prominent figure in the governing New Democracy party who was agriculture minister when the fraudulent scheme is alleged to have operated. In a rare display of damage control, Mitsotakis acknowledged the failings of a state apparatus that ought to have changed. 'The state's inadequacy is obvious,' he said. 'Clientelism [political patronage] cannot govern the way we conduct business.' The scheme, which allegedly saw hundreds of applications being made by non-existent owners of pasture and grazing land over a five-year period beginning in 2017, was brought to light by the European public prosecutor's office (EPPO). The Luxembourg-based office launched its inquiry in 2021. The funds were distributed by the state subsidy agency, OPEKEPE, which has since been dissolved. On Monday the centre-right prime minister told his cabinet that the new taskforce would be expected to act speedily. 'I await results quickly. We will investigate the incidents immediately and exhaustively in line with internal and European legislation. Since OPEKEPE didn't manage to do its work the state will do it centrally.' The scandal has been described as 'one of the biggest farming frauds of recent years' according to Politico, which said the illegally siphoned funds could amount to €45m (£38.6m) a year. The misuse was such that citizens with no known links to the agriculture sector, including a lawyer based in Athens, had applied for the aid. Some had posed as the owners of fictitious plots and others making claims as fake livestock breeders. Officials who had tried to alert authorities after uncovering irregularities were either discredited, demoted or removed from top posts. OPEKEPE has had six presidents over the past five years. The revelations have fuelled public anger and come against a backdrop of disaffection with a political elite seen as inefficient, out of touch and corrupt. An MRB poll last week revealed a stunning 74.5% of Greeks believed ministers had a hand in the scandal. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion 'While it is very positive that at long last this abscess has been lanced it does not honour the country that [it] is being cleaned up at the initiative of the European prosecutor,' said Maximos Charakopoulos, a governing party MP from the farming region of Larissa. For Mitsotakis, a leading figure of the European centre-right who led his party to a landslide victory and second term in 2023, the scandal is as embarrassing as it is potentially damaging. A significant number of the false claims were made in his native Crete, where the prime minister's prominent political family have long held sway. EU diplomats in Athens said Mitsotakis was at risk of losing the high moral ground needed to govern effectively if he was not seen to act fast. 'This scandal is so big that he has to act decisively,' one said. 'His language and actions show us that he is aware the rot needs to be exposed.'
Arab News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
A hard right lawmaker is sworn in as Greece's migration minister
ATHENS: A hard-right lawmaker was sworn in Monday as Greece's migration minister, replacing a fellow right-wing political heavyweight who resigned following accusations of involvement in the distribution of European Union farm subsidies. Five high-ranking government officials, including the previous migration minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers and a secretary general, resigned last Friday following allegations they were involved in a scheme to provide EU agriculture subsidies to undeserving recipients. The funds, which were handled by a government body known by its Greek acronym OPEKEPE, were allegedly given to numerous people who had made false declarations of owning or leasing non-existent pastures or livestock. Thanos Plevris, 48, succeeded Voridis and is expected to maintain Greece's hard line in migration policy. Both Plevris and Voridis joined the conservative New Democracy party in 2012, from the right-wing populist Popular Orthodox Rally, or LAOS, party. Voridis has denied any involvement in the alleged farm subsidy fraud and said he resigned in order to clear his name. The European Public Prosecutor's Office, which has investigated the case, passed on a hefty file to the Greek Parliament last week that includes allegations of possible involvement of government ministers. Lawmakers enjoy immunity from prosecution in Greece that can only be lifted by parliamentary vote. On Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his New Democracy party had failed to stamp out graft. 'Significant reform efforts were made,' Mitsotakis said in a social media post. 'But let's be honest. We failed.' He said anyone found to have received EU funds they were not entitled to would be ordered to return the money. 'Our many farmers and livestock breeders who toil and produce quality products, and all law-abiding citizens, will not tolerate scammers who claimed to have non-existent pastures and livestock, or those who enabled them to do so,' Mitsotakis said.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
A hard-right lawmaker is sworn in as Greece's migration minister
A hard-right lawmaker was sworn in Monday as Greece's migration minister, replacing a fellow right-wing political heavyweight who resigned following accusations of involvement in the distribution of European Union farm subsidies. Five high-ranking government officials, including the previous migration minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers and a secretary general, resigned last Friday following allegations they were involved in a scheme to provide EU agriculture subsidies to undeserving recipients. The funds, which were handled by a government body known by its Greek acronym OPEKEPE, were allegedly given to numerous people who had made false declarations of owning or leasing non-existent pastures or livestock. Thanos Plevris, 48, succeeded Voridis and is expected to maintain Greece's hard line in migration policy. Both Plevris and Voridis joined the conservative New Democracy party in 2012, from the right-wing populist Popular Orthodox Rally, or LAOS, party. Voridis has denied any involvement in the alleged farm subsidy fraud and said he resigned in order to clear his name. The European Public Prosecutor's Office, which has investigated the case, passed on a hefty file to the Greek Parliament last week that includes allegations of possible involvement of government ministers. Lawmakers enjoy immunity from prosecution in Greece that can only be lifted by parliamentary vote. On Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his New Democracy party had failed to stamp out graft. 'Significant reform efforts were made,' Mitsotakis said in a social media post. 'But let's be honest. We failed.' He said anyone found to have received EU funds they were not entitled to would be ordered to return the money. 'Our many farmers and livestock breeders who toil and produce quality products, and all law-abiding citizens, will not tolerate scammers who claimed to have non-existent pastures and livestock, or those who enabled them to do so,' Mitsotakis said.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A hard-right lawmaker is sworn in as Greece's migration minister
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A hard-right lawmaker was sworn in Monday as Greece's migration minister, replacing a fellow right-wing political heavyweight who resigned following accusations of involvement in the distribution of European Union farm subsidies. Five high-ranking government officials, including the previous migration minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers and a secretary general, resigned last Friday following allegations they were involved in a scheme to provide EU agriculture subsidies to undeserving recipients. The funds, which were handled by a government body known by its Greek acronym OPEKEPE, were allegedly given to numerous people who had made false declarations of owning or leasing non-existent pastures or livestock. Thanos Plevris, 48, succeeded Voridis and is expected to maintain Greece's hard line in migration policy. Both Plevris and Voridis joined the conservative New Democracy party in 2012, from the right-wing populist Popular Orthodox Rally, or LAOS, party. Voridis has denied any involvement in the alleged farm subsidy fraud and said he resigned in order to clear his name. The European Public Prosecutor's Office, which has investigated the case, passed on a hefty file to the Greek Parliament last week that includes allegations of possible involvement of government ministers. Lawmakers enjoy immunity from prosecution in Greece that can only be lifted by parliamentary vote. On Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his New Democracy party had failed to stamp out graft. 'Significant reform efforts were made,' Mitsotakis said in a social media post. 'But let's be honest. We failed.' He said anyone found to have received EU funds they were not entitled to would be ordered to return the money. 'Our many farmers and livestock breeders who toil and produce quality products, and all law-abiding citizens, will not tolerate scammers who claimed to have non-existent pastures and livestock, or those who enabled them to do so,' Mitsotakis said.
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
A hard-right lawmaker is sworn in as Greece's migration minister
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A hard-right lawmaker was sworn in Monday as Greece's migration minister, replacing a fellow right-wing political heavyweight who resigned following accusations of involvement in the distribution of European Union farm subsidies. Five high-ranking government officials, including the previous migration minister, Makis Voridis, three deputy ministers and a secretary general, resigned last Friday following allegations they were involved in a scheme to provide EU agriculture subsidies to undeserving recipients. The funds, which were handled by a government body known by its Greek acronym OPEKEPE, were allegedly given to numerous people who had made false declarations of owning or leasing non-existent pastures or livestock. Thanos Plevris, 48, succeeded Voridis and is expected to maintain Greece's hard line in migration policy. Both Plevris and Voridis joined the conservative New Democracy party in 2012, from the right-wing populist Popular Orthodox Rally, or LAOS, party. Voridis has denied any involvement in the alleged farm subsidy fraud and said he resigned in order to clear his name. The European Public Prosecutor's Office, which has investigated the case, passed on a hefty file to the Greek Parliament last week that includes allegations of possible involvement of government ministers. Lawmakers enjoy immunity from prosecution in Greece that can only be lifted by parliamentary vote. On Sunday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said his New Democracy party had failed to stamp out graft. 'Significant reform efforts were made,' Mitsotakis said in a social media post. 'But let's be honest. We failed.' He said anyone found to have received EU funds they were not entitled to would be ordered to return the money. 'Our many farmers and livestock breeders who toil and produce quality products, and all law-abiding citizens, will not tolerate scammers who claimed to have non-existent pastures and livestock, or those who enabled them to do so,' Mitsotakis said.
