Mitsotakis on OPEKEPE: The problem has no political color, the only appropriate solution is a Parliamentary Inquiry
Verbal confrontation with Zoe Konstantopoulou — “Stop bleating,” he told her — Attack on Famellos and Androulakis: “What are you trying to hide?”
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Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a fiery speech in Parliament regarding New Democracy’s proposal to form a Parliamentary Inquiry Committee into the OPEKEPE scandal.
Speech Opening
At the start of his address, Mr. Mitsotakis criticized comments made by Mr. Velopoulos:
“I see that young people have honored us by watching from the galleries. I want to tell them that what they saw moments ago is not the image of our Parliament. We heard all those incredible nonsenses connecting wildfires to wind farm development. Wind turbines—under certain conditions—can be placed in forest areas; one does not need to burn the forest. Let us stop propagating these baseless allegations. Does Mr. Velopoulos want us to produce cheap domestic energy or import expensive energy from Russia?”
On the Inquiry Proposal
The Prime Minister next addressed the inquiry proposal:
“I am here today to support New Democracy’s proposal concerning OPEKEPE, and also to call for institutional sobriety and parliamentary responsibility. We can take one of two paths: either this process will be fruitful, or it will devolve into barren disputes. The government opts for the first route, with a proposal for a parliamentary inquiry to confront deeply rooted dysfunctions, longstanding failures, and lead us toward a cleansing that will build the next day—for the benefit of farmers and the country. Assigning blame is one thing; a witch hunt is another.”
He continued:
“It is true that this mechanism, in the past, proved pointless—especially when used as a political weapon. But I will prove that today it is the only path. Greece needs truth, even when confronting wrongdoings that persist in harming us. We must overcome them, regardless of political cost. For decades, OPEKEPE was an open wound: an agency designed to support agriculture but turned into a clientelist tool with intermediaries, party figures, consultants who created dependencies. The result was that part of the funds didn’t go where they should. Parasites thrived, and state mismanagement was silently tolerated. This dishonors our country. I did not shy away from taking responsibility—not only for this government’s actions, but also for cases outside our term. Before the European Prosecutor’s office transmitted the case file, Greek justice had already moved—there were investigations and prosecutions.”
Incident with Zoe Konstantopoulou
Mr. Mitsotakis stated that the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) has the credibility and independence to perform the necessary cross-checks to determine who is entitled to receive payments.
However, Ms. Zoe Konstantopoulou intervened from the backbench, shouting:
“The wolf should guard the sheep.”
Closing Remarks
“Parallel investigations are underway to determine who received illegal subsidies. Some farmers have already begun returning money they received illicitly. Soon, the state will have a full picture of intermediaries involved and uncover the darkest channels. Illicit amounts will be reclaimed, starting with the most blatant cases.”
He responded to Ms. Konstantopoulou:
“Stop shouting. You are not the court, nor defenders of rapists. I believe the inquiry will be the best response for the current times.”
Greece has paid nearly €3 billion in penalties and reassessments
He explained the inquiry would investigate where systemic failures occurred, why grazing schemes were delayed, who recommended the technical solution, their motives, and how to eradicate this persistent problem. He asked Mr. Androulakis:
“Was there internal auditing within OPEKEPE? What audits took place and with what results? What was the role of the technical consultant? I wonder, Mr. Androulakis, if you agree with these questions.”
“We will get answers and fill gaps. This is our clear position toward a wound that must cease festering. It opened almost alongside the Organization’s founding. Greece has paid nearly €3 billion in penalties and reassessments due to subsidy mismanagement. For context: • 2004–2009: €259 million reassessed • 2009–2013: €322 million • 2011–2014: €167 million
“No criminal liability for ministers”
He contrasted his own proposal with the opposition’s, stating:
“Opposition parties propose a prosecutorial committee and descend into theatrics, restricting the issue to the current government’s years. You are mistaken, and let me explain why. Everyone knows OPEKEPE was flawed from the outset—you cannot deny that. We believe there is no criminal liability for ministers.”
Addressing the opposition, he asked:
“What prevents you from voting with us for the parliamentary inquiry? And if evidence emerges, then moving to a prosecutorial committee? So the real question is what you want to hide by rejecting the inquiry. The European Prosecutor assumed authority in 2021 and investigates cases from then onward. Our country doesn’t need toxicity, but truth and courage—to find causes and uproot them. The path opens only through the inquiry. Those avoiding it, Mr. Androulakis, maybe do so to avoid their own footprints being uncovered.”
“The problem has no political color, only the gray of fraud”
“The problem is not politically colored—only the gray of fraud. You, Mr. Androulakis, coming from Crete, should know that. I didn’t accuse PASOK wholesale. But I do not allow you to call New Democracy a ‘criminal organization.’ I return the label to you—as your friend returned illegal subsidies. Before speaking, Mr. Androulakis, you might want to ask more questions. How can you defend the technical solution—designed by your own Moschos Korasidis—but accuse us for applying it? Legal under PASOK, illegal under our government? No party is exempt—we include New Democracy. This system did not spring up overnight. Was it SYRIZA who altered the ministerial decision to grant subsidies even without animals? Was it Mr. Apostolou? Listening to Mr. Polakis shouting—someone who knows what happened with Cretan livestock farmers—I understand why you oppose the inquiry.”
He added:
“We don’t seek mutual cancellations, but we won’t forget what happened in the country—mainly to confront a long-standing dysfunction that became contagious. Remember, this government also admits mistakes—but fights what we call the ‘deep state.’ We proved it through digital reform: government that’s closer to citizens and further from corruption. Through rapid pension adjudication, electronic stadium tickets, paperless prescriptions. The fight is constant and spans all levels—including in agricultural subsidy reform. We owe this fight to lawful farmers.”
Reform and Moving Forward
Mitsotakis stated:
“The era of easy subsidies is ending. Modernization, improved productivity, production are top priorities. May this unpleasant reality catalyze primary sector reform. If someone thinks this is only a political problem and not a societal one, they are mistaken.”
He added that the Ministry has frozen thousands of tax IDs and is reexamining organic crop production. The parliamentary inquiry will investigate the suspicious role of declaration centers. Working with Brussels, a full reform plan for OPEKEPE was drafted in summer 2024—well before the case file was transferred. A 45-point action plan is already underway, while the Financial Prosecutor examines initial cases to impose penalties and fines. This is why Mitsotakis insists the inquiry proceed with the agency in operation—it’s a window of opportunity for cleaning up the agricultural sector.
“Stop bleating”
During the speech, Mitsotakis exchanged another verbal clash with Plevsi Eleftherias President Zoe Konstantopoulou, who opposed him from the benches. He told her:
“Stop bleating at long last.”
Their exchange:
Konstantopoulou: Are you going to come?
Mitsotakis: Stop bleating!
Konstantopoulou: Are you going?
Mitsotakis: I’m not dealing with you.
Konstantopoulou: What did you say? You don’t like the opposition?
Kaklamanis: Yes! So what opposition is that?
Konstantopoulou: Retract that.
Kaklamanis: File a no-confidence motion.
Mitsotakis: We must change Parliament’s Rules to address these behaviors that dishonor the institution. You did so during the Tempi tragedy. Distortion. You confuse political with criminal responsibility. That’s cynical opportunism, with aggressive and crude rhetoric.
“PASOK and SYRIZA share the same vocabulary as extreme left and right parties”
Mitsotakis launched harsh criticism at SYRIZA and PASOK:
“For the first time we see PASOK and SYRIZA sharing the same dark vocabulary with extremist left and right parties: ‘junta,’ ‘mafia,’ ‘komora’… You are unable to offer anything positive for the nation’s future. You revert to old tactics—fake news and toxicity.”
He concluded by summing up his rationale for the inquiry and warning of internal fragmentation:
“I have presented the reasons why the parliamentary inquiry is the appropriate solution. I exposed the raw opportunism of the opposition’s stance. And I want to emphasize, again, the risk of our homeland and social life regressing into destructive introspection at a time of intensifying turmoil and authoritarian voices. In such an environment, as elected Prime Minister, let me remind those echoing ‘junta’ remarks that Greece cannot afford experiments or internal instability. We expect greater responsibility and seriousness.”
Final Appeal & Voting Details
In closing, the PM invited opposition parties to vote in favor of the inquiry and to withdraw their request for a prosecutorial committee:
“Withdraw your request for a prosecutorial committee. Let’s vote together for the parliamentary inquiry. After all, if evidence emerges, we can move on to a prosecutorial committee.”
“Only this way can we address a structural problem. We could answer it together. That is what society demands—it senses that the scandal is not partisan—it is cross-party and responsibilities are already shared.”
The vote on the inquiry will be nominal and electronic—with a simple majority of MPs present required.
Tomorrow, two secret-ballot votes will be held—one for Mr. Voridis and another for Mr. Avgenakis—to decide referrals. A minimum of 151 “yes” votes is required. With opposition holding 142 MPs and independent MPs likely to follow the government line, approval of these referrals would demand defection by at least 11 ND MPs—a scenario deemed unlikely unless ND abstains.
