FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
With a broad majority and without significant differences between parliamentary groups, the Greek Parliament approved today the request to lift the parliamentary immunity of 13 MPs, whose names appear in two new files of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) related to the major OPEC scandal.
According to Greek media reports, at least 10 of the 13 MPs involved voted in favor of lifting their immunity, as well as that of other colleagues. In most cases, the only votes “against” lifting immunity came from MP Katerina Papakosta and independent MP Costas Floros.
During the plenary session, all MEPs involved addressed their colleagues from all parties, urging them to vote in favour of lifting their immunity. They stressed that they wanted to prove their innocence before ordinary justice, despite considering the conclusions of the European Public Prosecutor's Office to be unfounded or false.
288 deputies participated in the vote, they voted respectively for each of the 13 deputies as follows:
- K. Papakostas: 287 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 1 MP voted against
- K. Karamanlis: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- I. Kefalogiannis: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- N. Mitarakis: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- K. Tsiaras: 285 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- K. Skrekas: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- D. Vartzopoulos: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- M. Senetakis: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- L. Vasiliadis: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- Chr. Boukoros: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- Th. Leontaridis: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- Char. Athanasiou: 285 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
- T. Hatzivasiliou: 286 MPs voted in favor of lifting immunity, while 2 MPs voted against
Why was the immunity of 13 deputies lifted?
The OPEKEPE case concerns a wide-ranging scandal of alleged fraud and misuse of European Union agricultural funds, managed by the Greek Organisation for Payment and Control of Community Aids (OPEKEPE). This organisation is responsible for the distribution of over €2 billion a year in EU agricultural subsidies. According to the EPPO’s investigations, from 2016 to 2023 (and particularly around 2021), an organised network is suspected of allowing illegal payments of subsidies through false declarations of agricultural land, imaginary pastures, Natura protected areas or state property.
The implicated MPs are accused mainly of acts such as interference or pressure on OPEC officials to favor certain farmers or political clients, including charges such as incitement to breach of duty, computer fraud and false declarations with the aim of illegal gain. The scandal has already led to the resignation of ministers, a record fine of around 392 million euros from the EU on Greece, and the closure or restructuring of the OPEC agency.
The lifting of immunity became necessary so that the European Public Prosecutor's Office could continue full investigations, gather evidence and decide whether to prosecute MEPs for actions affecting the financial interests of the European Union.
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