Charitsis launched a fierce attack on the government regarding OPEKEPE, the irregularities in recent payments, and the transition of the organization to AADE, during the discussion in the Parliament plenary on the related bill.

“The government is making determined efforts to enrage us. This is the message sent by farmers from the roadblocks, following the announcements of Mr. Hatzidakis and Mr. Mitsotakis during the budget debate. And the next day, their anger overflowed,” claimed the president of the New Left, adding:

“Here one can only raise their hands. Just when farmers were finally expecting the disbursement of the basic and redistributive subsidies, instead of seeing money deposited into their accounts, what did they see? Amounts being deducted from their accounts by ELGA. Illegally, before the subsidy was even paid.

That is, with farmers on the streets, having reached the breaking point, with their very survival at risk, instead of paying them, you go and take money for ELGA as well. What do you expect these people to do? What else can they do except get enraged?”

Without clarifying whether he accepts the Prime Minister’s proposal to establish a cross-party committee to discuss primary sector issues, Charitsis proposed:

• Reorganization of OPEKEPE with proper staffing, transparency, meritocracy in administration appointments, and digital and technological upgrades.
• Support for farmers against profiteering and illegal “Greek-label” product practices.
• Strengthening of cooperatives so that producers are no longer the weakest link.
• Immediate satisfaction of farmers’ fair demand for cheap electricity – 7 cents/KWh. Stop the speculation by the energy lobby (private and DEI) at the expense of farmers. Additionally: support energy communities and self-production for the primary sector.

Finally, regarding the plan to restructure ELTA (Hellenic Post), he stated:

“This government bears the huge crime of depopulating rural areas. In the name of the transition to the digital era, they found yet another way to strip away anything public, anything state-owned, and give more space to their favorite large private interests. And the Greek countryside is shrinking and becoming deserted. Citizens of rural areas are treated as second- or third-class citizens: without schools, without doctors, without nearby banks, without nearby tax offices, without nearby ELTA services.”