Dear Member,
This is our weekly roundup from Greece.
A minister and three alternate ministers resigned as a result of the major corruption scandal within Greece’s agricultural agency OPEKEPE, which revealed alleged misuse of EU funds, involving political figures, agency officials, and intermediaries.
Wiretaps suggest efforts to obstruct justice, including pressure to remove the European Prosecutor leading the investigation.
Meanwhile, the island of Chios is being ravaged by wildfires, with over 60,000 hectares of land destroyed. Some fires broke out near areas linked to controversial mining projects, raising concerns about arson linked to development interests.
OPEKEPE Scandal: High-ranking government members resign over leaked wiretaps revealing deep corruption network
Explosive revelations have surfaced from wiretapped conversations concerning a major corruption scandal at OPEKEPE, Greece’s state agency responsible for distributing EU agricultural subsidies. The intercepted communications, part of a 3,000-page case file submitted to the Greek Parliament, detail a complex network allegedly involving high-level political interference, fraudulent subsidies, and pressure on public officials.
The case file reportedly (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) describes the structure of a criminal organisation involving OPEKEPE officials, farmers and livestock breeders, employees of the contractor company managing the agency’s information system, and intermediaries.
Key political figures implicated include New Democracy’s former Rural Development Minister, now Migration Minister Makis Voridis, and former Rural Development Minister, now MP Lefteris Avgenakis, along with five deputy ministers: Stamenitis, Kellas, Senetakis, Chatzivasileiou, and Boukoros. The transcripts indicate suspected favouritism, intimidation of agency employees, and even efforts to obstruct the investigation led by the European Prosecutor Popi Papandreou.
It should be noted that the legal wiretapping was not carried out by the Greek Intelligence EYP (which was implicated in the ‘Greek Watergate’ and is under the PM’s supervision), but by the Greek Police, following a relevant request by the European Prosecutor, according (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) to journalist Tasos Telloglou, who has been following the case from the very beginning.
Late on Friday afternoon, Migration Minister Voridis resigned along with (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) Stamenitis, Chatzivasileiou, and Boukoros. “There is no relevant evidence in the specific case file that indicates I have conducted a criminal act,” Voridis stated (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) in his resignation letter.
Among the central figures in the scandal are two livestock farmers from Crete, nicknamed “Frappe” and “Butcher,” who are alleged to have received hundreds of thousands of euros in illegal subsidies. In a recorded conversation, “Frappe” reassures a local OPEKEPE official that Avgenakis (elected in Heraklion region, Crete) remains protected by Voridis, who “fully covers them,” while also suggesting political moves are being made to sideline the prosecutor investigating the case (see next section).
In another recording, a senior member of the ruling New Democracy party tells the head of OPEKEPE: “As long as the Prime Minister’s Office and Makis (Voridis) are behind you, you're unshakable. Crush them all.” Other conversations reveal vulgar language and complaints over reduced subsidy payments.
Voridis repeatedly appears in the wiretaps as a key political backer with influence over the agency. According to the wiretaps (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), he is part of a powerful “trio” that includes government officials Akis Skertsos, Minister of State, and Giorgos Gerapetritis, Foreign Minister.
Many wiretaps directly reference clientelist requests: Deputy Minister Stamenitis allegedly pushes for reclassification of a cornfield to allow higher subsidies. Senetakis reportedly asks for reduced livestock requirements for a large dairy producer, while Boukoros seeks to exempt an acquaintance from an on-site inspection due to “health reasons.”
To gain insight into the scope of the scandal, the investigation encompasses the organic beekeeping subsidy program, for which applications totaling €170 million were submitted (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), despite a budget of only €18.8 million. Crete alone appears to have claimed some 60% of the requested funds. Producers without any beehives received certifications (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) for 300–500 colonies, while others declared crops on unsuitable land, including the old military airport in Agrinio or even grazing fields in... North Macedonia.
Former OPEKEPE president Grigoris Varras testified that he was forced to resign after insisting on audits for suspicious subsidy claims, which he says upset “powerful interests” inside and outside the agency.
Concerns have been raised about limited access to the file, as copies are reportedly restricted to MPs from the major parties (ND, PASOK, and SYRIZA), sidelining smaller opposition groups.
The scandal is expected to spark significant political fallout, with legal proceedings ongoing and the case continuing to evolve both judicially and politically.
"If they don't get rid of the Prosecutor now, we're in Trouble"
A wiretapped conversation at the center of Greece’s growing OPEKEPE scandal has revealed shocking claims of high-level political efforts to remove European Prosecutor Popi Papandreou from an ongoing investigation into widespread fraud in agricultural subsidies.
In one of the recordings mentioned in the previous section, dated 25 October 2024, which captures a phone call between a regional director of OPEKEPE in Crete and the figure by the nickname “Frapes,” alleged to be involved in a scheme under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), perhaps the most revealing line of the conversation is this (Öffnet in neuem Fenster):
“(...) Makis [allegedly Voridis] told me ‘send him to me tomorrow,’ that is today. He also called [Justice Minister] Floridis. If they don’t get rid of Papandreou now, we’ve got a problem. Got it?”
“Can they? She is a European, not under their jurisdiction.”
“Greek, she is Greek and appointed by the Ministry of Justice.”
In other words, “Frapes” attempts to reassure the OPEKEPE official, claiming that “Makis” - presumed to be former minister Makis Voridis- had personally told him to send a certain individual to him directly, and that Voridis had also reached out to Greece’s Minister of Justice, Giorgos Floridis.
Since the Justice Minister’s name is included, Documento concludes (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) that the whole conversation refers to getting the European Prosecutor out of the way.
The apparent reference is to Popi Papandreou, the Greek prosecutor currently serving in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and leading the investigation into alleged abuse of EU agricultural funds. According to “Frapes,” Voridis assured him of full political backing, reportedly saying, “To the bone.”
The exchange suggests that political operatives were not only aware of the investigation but may have been actively seeking ways to obstruct or derail it, including the removal of the very prosecutor overseeing the case. It also reflects a belief that even European-level legal officials could be influenced or replaced through domestic political pressure.
The case remains open both judicially and politically, with further revelations expected in the coming weeks.
It is worth reminding that the ND government had been accused in the past for prohibiting the work of Justice in the Novartis scandal, including what has been called a “lawmaking coup.” (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) That is, they abolished the position of Corruption Prosecutor Eleni Touloupaki, who was investigating the Novartis scandal and merged it into Financial Prosecution. Prosecutor Touloupaki had also been persecuted. Touloupaki has appealed to the European Court of Human Rights for her case (Öffnet in neuem Fenster), and the court has found that her arguments have a legal base.
Chios island devastated by wildfires. Over 60,000 acres reduced to ashes
Chios is facing one of the worst disasters (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) in recent years, following the outbreak of five separate wildfires (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) on Sunday 22 June. Four days later, the fires were still burning forested areas and agricultural land, with estimates suggesting that up to one-third of the island has been affected.
There was no central active fire front as of Wednesday, yet firefighting crews were battling thousands of scattered hotspots and constant flare-ups.
The North Aegean Regional Authority estimated that more than 60,000 acres (approximately 24,000 hectares) of forests and farmlands have been destroyed.
It’s worth noting that many of the forests destroyed had already been burned in the massive wildfires of 2012 and 2016. These areas were beginning to naturally regenerate, making this new destruction even more devastating.
In a public post, NTUA professor Nikos Belavilas referred (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) to “diabolical” coincidences and coordinated arson attacks on the island of Chios, a place where, in recent years, the state has been aggressively pushing for mining projects. These efforts have met with fierce opposition from the local population.
More specifically, Belavilas stated in his post:
“The first four fires broke out in suburban woodlands near the city, almost in contact with the urban fabric, in an area where the construction of a major ring road has been the subject of intense debate. The fires quickly spread, ravaging central Chios.”
He goes on to highlight that the fifth fire started “at the northern edge of the antimony mining zone, a region that has triggered island-wide protests, in Agiasmata and the pristine forest of Keramos. Had it not been intercepted in time, it would have scorched the entire contested zone: the Keramos Natura area, which is now at risk of being sacrificed in the name of extraction.”
Belavilas concludes his post by emphasising: “This is why, on Chios, many are now speaking of 'diabolical' coincidences and coordinated arson — not, of course, by foreign agents.”
A number of posts (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) in the same line were also made by Greek author Yannis Makridakis, a Chios local.
He noted that an island “once thriving from shipping, mastiha production, citrus groves, a small-scale eco-tourism economy, and its rich culture, has suddenly become dependent on tourism and every kind of extractive exploitation. A paradise on earth has been turned into a cheap political real estate venture and an unlivable land.”
In another post, he concluded:
"Chios is burning under an organised plan of terroristic, investment-driven development obsession.
Just like in 2012 —right after the invasion of multinational energy companies— Chios is once again burning, a year after the bombastic investment talk about mining projects. Chios is being torched to clear the way for ‘development.’ The political arsonists, both local and national, are well known. Society voted them in.
Now the fire has reached the area where the mining operations are planned.
This is the trajectory of all of Greece under the policies of sellout and exploitation.
It’s over."
A Georgian cleaner (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) was arrested (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) for unintentional arson connected to one of the fire fronts, as “Witnesses saw her drop a cigarette, one of the officials said.” She has been convicted (Öffnet in neuem Fenster) to three years in prison without a suspended sentence and a 10,000 euros fine.
Read
Wildfire rages out of control in SE Attica, dozens evacuated (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
In pictures: Greek Holiday Islands Caught in Wildfires (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Greeks in Syria Plead for Help from Athens Following Church Bombing (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Tsipras calls for release of 2015 political leaders’ meeting minutes (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
OPEKEPE: The scandal that keeps on giving (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Preliminary investigation – or whitewash – into the Tempe crime begins (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Living Like a Greek Is Great. Until You’re Paid Like One (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Tourism boom runs on burnout (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
‘Operation Calypso’ Uncovers Massive Chinese Goods Fraud at Piraeus (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Microplastics find their way to Crete’s isolated caves (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
The invisible wall no longer exists (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Erietta Atali: Chasing the light of Delos (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
Mikis Theodorakis Honored at Packed Kallimarmaro in Athens (Öffnet in neuem Fenster)
That’s all for this week; please forward this email to anyone you think might find it interesting and ask them to join our international community!
The AL team
Datum
29.06.2025
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