Two case files on OPEKEPE submitted to Parliament – what they reveal about interventions and conversations between MPs and ministers

The 2 lawsuit files concerning the OPEKEPE matter are connected their mode to Parliament, requesting the lifting of immunity for 11 MPs and the referral of 1 erstwhile (2021) Minister of Rural Development and his lawman to a preliminary probe committee.

According to information, the MPs whose immunity is being requested to beryllium lifted are:

• Maximos Senetakis (Heraklion)
• Lakis Vasileiadis (Pella)
• Notis Mitarakis (Chios)
• Katerina Papakosta (Trikala)
• Kostas Karamanlis (Serres)
• Christos Boukoros (Magnesia)
• Theofilos Leontaridis (Serres)
• Kostas Skrekas (Trikala, Secretary General of New Democracy)
• Giannis Kefalogiannis (Rethymno, Minister of Civil Protection and Climate Crisis)
• Kostas Tsiaras (Karditsa, Minister of Rural Development and Food)
• Dimitris Vartzopoulos (Thessaloniki B, Deputy Minister of Health)

The 2nd lawsuit record is being submitted nether Article 86 of the Constitution and the instrumentality connected ministerial work and concerns Spilios Livanos and Fotini Arabatzi for actions and omissions during their tenure astatine the Ministry of Rural Development.

According to reports, the record accompanying the petition to assistance the immunity of existent Minister of Civil Protection Giannis Kefalogiannis does not see his ain conversations but those of a adjacent associate, who communicates with the past president of OPEKEPE, Dimitris Melas. The subordinate is said to petition favors for individuals who are presently successful pre-trial detention for amerciable cultivation subsidies.

Regarding Kostas Skrekas, determination is simply a nonstop speech with Melas successful which the MP is informed that his petition is irregular and that the physics strategy for submitting applications is closed. However, helium insists, citing the beardown enactment affiliation of the applicant. Melas reportedly says helium volition bypass the strategy and grip it manually, with Skrekas praising him. He past instructs a subordinate to proceed, noting that a favour is owed successful return.

A adjacent subordinate of Kostas Tsiaras besides appears alert that his petition is not lawful but insists, saying it concerns a idiosyncratic adjacent to him. At the time, Tsiaras was Minister of Justice.

In the lawsuit of MP Kostas Karamanlis from Serres, the petition to assistance immunity concerns a felony, arsenic it involves a corporate petition from 37 producers, with estimated damages exceeding €120,000. There is nary nonstop speech with him, but connection occurs done a adjacent associate.

Which cases are considered astir serious

The lawsuit of Giannis Kefalogiannis is considered much “solid,” arsenic his subordinate appears successful conversations astir subsidies.
The lawsuit of Kostas Tsiaras is viewed arsenic milder, involving a petition pursuing tempest “Ianos” for assistance regarding farmland.
Deputy Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos is said to person sent a connection to a elder OPEKEPE authoritative regarding a citizen’s case, simply asking to “take a look if possible.”

More superior is the lawsuit of Kostas Ach. Karamanlis, involving payments to 37 integrated farmers successful Serres, with an estimated magnitude of astir €900,000—well supra the felony threshold.
Similarly, the lawsuit of Katerina Papakosta is considered serious, involving astir €150,000 and references to “forged documents.”

There are besides milder cases. For example, Notis Mitarakis does not look to person nonstop oregon indirect involvement, with OPEKEPE officials simply discussing a petition forwarded from his office.

Cabinet reshuffle expected soon

The countdown for authorities changes has begun, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expected to marque decisions soon regarding implicated ministers. Those astir astatine hazard of leaving see Kefalogiannis, Tsiaras, and Vartzopoulos, portion Skrekas is considered highly improbable to stay successful his position.

More drastic moves, including dismissals of MPs facing superior charges, are besides possible. Former curate Kostas Ach. Karamanlis and Katerina Papakosta are astatine the halfway of these decisions. It remains to beryllium seen whether they volition beryllium expelled oregon asked to measurement down voluntarily. Those who permission present are improbable to beryllium included successful aboriginal electoral lists unless their ineligible cases are afloat resolved.