Although New Democracy (ND) submitted a request yesterday for the establishment of a Preliminary Investigation Committee with charges of misdemeanors against former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Axh. Karamanlis, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, however, does not want the government to get trapped in this discussion. Given this, the Prime Minister is focusing on today’s cabinet meeting, which is convening with a “rich” agenda at Maximos Mansion, while yesterday the decision was made to close OPEKEPE and incorporate it into AADE, as “To Vima” revealed on Sunday.

One of the main topics of the Cabinet is the new, independent authority for market supervision, which the relevant Minister, Takis Theodorikakos, has announced days ago. The Minister of Development aims to activate a “model similar to AADE,” merging various inspection mechanisms to achieve better and more effective interoperability of services. The new independent authority is expected to become operational in early 2026, once its structure is organized and its leadership selected, similar to the case of Giorgos Pitsilis at AADE.

Branches of the new authority will include the Consumer Ombudsman, DIMEA, and services of the General Secretariat of Commerce. “It is necessary to proceed with a substantial reform of the entire market supervision system and consumer protection,” Theodorikakos had stated a few days ago.

Administrative and Criminal Sanctions

Another major issue on the table is the bill by the Minister of Migration, Makis Voridis, aimed at speeding up and increasing the deportation of illegal migrants, alongside tightening the existing framework for administrative and criminal sanctions. Voridis met with Mitsotakis on Monday to finalize the directions of the new framework, which is designed with a “deterrent” logic for those whose asylum applications have been rejected and, in secondary review.

Practically, if an second-level asylum application is rejected, the migrant will only be able to submit new evidence once more for processing. After asylum rejection, illegal migrants will either be detained in closed Pre-departure Centers for up to 24 months without the right to exit or will wear a bracelet and be required to appear regularly at police stations.

If they have not left when the administrative sanctions period ends, they will face criminal penalties for illegal entry and stay in Greece, with a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years, which will be served. Consequently, they will be motivated to leave Greece voluntarily, as in this case, criminal prosecution will be suspended.

The End of OPEKEPE

In this context of drastic interventions aimed at addressing the issues within the “deep state,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis yesterday afternoon activated the official dissolution of OPEKEPE in a meeting attended by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, Ministers Kyriakos Pierrakakis and Kostas Skrekas, Deputy Minister George Mylonakis, and the head of AADE, Giorgos Pitsilis. Confirming the information from “To Vima,” Mitsotakis announced the integration of the outgoing OPEKEPE into AADE with a separate directorate, while its staff will be redistributed within the independent authority to “break” any existing circles.

Of course, the government decision at the highest level reflects an admission of failure by the state; however, government officials argue that this move indicates the Prime Minister’s intention to “break the parasite” within the organization and to avoid risking European funding for the primary sector. “The message is clear: The Agricultural Support and Payment system is entering a new era, ending decades of bad practices and illnesses that deprived diligent farmers of resources and opportunities,” government sources emphasize. The goal is for OPEKEPE to be fully integrated into AADE by the second half of 2026, with the relevant legislative arrangements to be submitted by July.