The government is examining the possibility of replacing OPEKEPE with AADE, announced Kostis Hatzidakis today, confirming the report published yesterday by Proto Thema newspaper, and stressed that the government aims for a decisive solution to the issue. As revealed in the report, a legislative provision is expected whereby agricultural subsidies will be distributed through AADE, which has previously functioned as a Paying Authority.

“On the matter of OPEKEPE, the government will proceed with legal security and effectiveness so that the solution offered will be decisive. AADE is an Authority whose objectivity and effectiveness have not been questioned and which operated in the past, during the COVID-19 period, as a paying authority. Therefore, it is seriously considered that from now on AADE will take over the work of OPEKEPE,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized on SKAI radio.

According to Mr. Hatzidakis, the OPEKEPE case exemplifies how the deep state functions, benefiting certain bureaucrats and opportunists, to the detriment of society and the government in power. He noted that similar issues concerning agricultural subsidies have arisen in other European countries, and this is not surprising to those involved in the agricultural economy. However, it is a very serious matter that could lead to demands for the return of funds. “Efforts have been made, but it is clear that immediate and decisive action is needed. That is why the government wants to send the message that a new beginning will be made, without compromises and with great strictness,” he stated.

“We will either confront the deep state and bureaucracy, or we ourselves will fall victim to it,” the Deputy Prime Minister underlined. “This is a matter of electoral commitments as well as conscience. Steps have been taken, such as the digital modernization of the public sector, the restructuring of DEI and EFKA, evaluations in the public sector, but much more must be done. One of my missions is precisely the deep state. It does not matter what any union leader says, but what matters is the ordinary, defenseless citizen,” he added and continued:

“From the beginning, every government must clarify whether it wants to be a government of public relations or a government of results. With public relations, you might have a good time for a few months. But in the end, everywhere, you are judged by the results. If health, education, social policy, and the economy do not improve, then the bill comes to the government and even more so to society.”

Interview of K. Hatzidakis on SKAI 100.3 with N. Papadopoulos and V. Chiotis (26.05.2025)

Answering questions, Mr. Hatzidakis also noted:

On evaluation and lifting civil servant tenure:

“We will proceed with knowledge of social reality, in the right way, with adherence to institutions, and based on what is done in other European countries. On certain issues, such as tenure in the public sector and university legality, society has surpassed the political system, which still discusses matters in terms of the 1980s and 1990s. Substantive evaluations are already underway, in which not everyone is rated excellent as happened under SYRIZA. We will soon move forward in health with anonymous questionnaires completed by patients to evaluate hospitals, followed by evaluations of schools and educators themselves,” Mr. Hatzidakis stated. Evaluation will lead either to performance bonuses, expanded training seminars, or dismissal for those deemed inadequate by Service Councils. He also criticized PASOK’s tactic of “trying to sit on two chairs,” referring to Skandalidis initially supporting lifting tenure but then Doudonis arguing that we will return to the era of Kolettis!

On the Tempi issue:

“At one extreme is the attempt at cover-up; at the other is criminal populism. We must avoid both extremes. ND’s proposal for the preliminary investigation will be submitted without delay. The case file has been studied, and we must proceed with the next steps. The Triantopoulos case, where we allowed the natural judge to express an opinion, shows the way forward. In the end, the average citizen will know that the natural judge decided and that the government majority did not obstruct the investigation of any responsibilities.”

On the Thessaloniki International Fair package:

“Emphasis will be placed on further reducing primarily direct taxes, beyond the promises made for the Armed Forces and Security Forces. On one side, the opposition promises ‘bridges and rivers.’ Those who want can trust them. On the other, we say we can continue a policy of development and convergence with a strong social dimension. What we have done so far combines fiscal prudence with a pro-growth approach and structural reforms such as combating tax evasion. Without forgetting that we are talking about a wounded society that went through extremely difficult times in the past decade.”