Greece’s Parliament has approved a proposal by the ruling New Democracy (ND) party to set up an investigative committee to examine the OPEKEPE case, with 166 MPs voting “yes” and 92 voting “no.” A total of 258 MPs participated in the vote, and there were no abstentions.

The debate leading up to the vote was heated. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged opposition parties to support the proposal, saying that forming a preliminary investigation committee — as suggested by opposition parties — had no legal basis.

During his speech, Mitsotakis said that ND wants to investigate how the agricultural payment agency OPEKEPE has operated since its creation, aiming to uncover responsibilities and restore transparency. He highlighted long-standing problems within the agency, calling it “an open wound for decades.”

He emphasized that the government is seeking real accountability and said: “Assigning responsibility is not the same as going on a witch hunt.” He also admitted that some EU funds “didn’t go where they were supposed to,” and called on all parties to support the inquiry.

Opposition Response

Nikos Androulakis, leader of PASOK-KINAL, strongly criticized the government, referring to what he called an “organized blue criminal network.” He noted that this term appears in documents sent to Parliament by EU prosecutors.

Sokratis Famellos, leader of SYRIZA, accused the government of trying to dismiss the case, calling it “a scandal involving ND’s people.” He claimed the government is trying to hide important evidence provided by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Mitsotakis Challenges the Opposition

Earlier in the debate, Mitsotakis challenged the opposition to vote in favor of the investigation. He questioned why they would oppose it if they had nothing to hide. He said that the opposition’s proposals for a preliminary inquiry had no legal ground, especially since the European Prosecutor only started its work in 2021 and is investigating matters from that point onward.

He said the country needs truth and bold reforms, not more toxicity and political games. He argued that only an investigative committee can lead to the needed answers, and those refusing it might be afraid of what it will reveal.

Political Clashes

Mitsotakis criticized both PASOK and SYRIZA for their aggressive language, including accusations of criminal behavior and mafia-like operations. He stressed that the issue is not political but about addressing fraud and mismanagement.

In response, Androulakis accused the government of protecting criminals and turning official funding into tools for political corruption. He also clashed with Mitsotakis over references to former PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou. Mitsotakis called Androulakis a poor imitation of Papandreou with “selective morality,” to which Androulakis responded that he may lack Papandreou’s charisma, but unlike Mitsotakis, he’s not constantly involved in corruption scandals.