Greek Parliament to Open Second Round of Inquiries in OPEKEPE Farm Subsidy Scandal

Greece’s Parliament is acceptable to motorboat Friday a 2nd circular of investigations into 13 politicians implicated successful the OPEKEPE cultivation subsidies scandal, 10 months aft the archetypal lawsuit record was referred to the legislature.

Case files for 2 erstwhile furniture ministers and 11 sitting members of parliament are presently held astatine the Justice Ministry, with the transmittal bid expected to beryllium signed Wednesday evening truthful documents scope Parliament by aboriginal Friday morning.

According to parliamentary scheduling, a plenary league volition convene, astatine which the lawsuit record concerning erstwhile Agriculture Development Minister Spilios Livanos and erstwhile Deputy Agriculture Minister Foteini Arampatzi — some serving successful 2021 — is expected to beryllium formally announced nether the ministerial work law. That record is being referred to Parliament without immoderate anterior judicial assessment.

The lawsuit record involving the 11 sitting lawmakers, filed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, volition beryllium accompanied by a ceremonial appraisal and forwarded to parliamentary committee president Mr. Giorgos Georgandas earlier organisation to enactment groups.

A captious deadline looms: the alleged offenses day to 2021, meaning a five-year statute of limitations expires successful 2026. Legal sources pass that nonaccomplishment to analyse and prosecute earlier that deadline risks the cases being time-barred.

Should prosecutors find that medicine is imminent, a committee league could beryllium convened adjacent during Holy Week. The afloat plenary retains last authorization to assistance oregon uphold each lawmaker’s parliamentary immunity, by unfastened vote.

By Emmanuella Argiti