(April 3): Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis overhauled his cabinet as three ministers departed, with pressure mounting over European Union (EU) probes into alleged farm subsidy fraud.
The ministers, who oversaw issues like agriculture and civil protection, are all linked to an investigation into the suspected misuse of EU agricultural funds. EU prosecutors earlier this week asked the Greek parliament to lift the immunity of 11 lawmakers as part of the probe, and the departing ministers were among those included, according to people familiar with the case.
Margaritis Schinas, a former European Commission vice president, will become the new rural development minister, and Evangelos Tournas will be the new civil protection minister, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said in a televised address.
The agricultural subsidies scandal has become a political flashpoint in Greece, with the government facing pressure from the opposition over the alleged involvement of its members or of lawmakers from Mitsotakis’ ruling New Democracy party.
The foreign, defence and finance ministers were unchanged.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has an ongoing investigation into the alleged fraud scheme, which involves public officials working for the Greek agency that handles EU agricultural subsidies, known as OPEKEPE. The latest request for lifting immunity cites acts allegedly committed in 2021.
See also: Just three firms are driving Europe’s €420 bil stock rout
“The investigation concerns alleged felonies and misdemeanours against the financial interests of the EU, namely instigation of breach of trust, computer fraud and false attestation with the intent to obtain for another an unlawful benefit,” EPPO said.
Friday’s overhaul isn’t the first time cabinet members have stepped down in response to the investigations.
Makis Voridis, who served as agriculture minister during part of the period under investigation, resigned as migration minister in June. Voridis said at the time he was leaving to focus on defending his reputation and has denied any wrongdoing.
See also: EU lawmakers approve US trade deal after several delays
Five former members of the Greek parliament are also under investigation as part of the probe. EPPO’s Athens office has also separately referred information to parliament concerning the alleged involvement of a former minister and a deputy minister, the EU prosecutors said earlier this week.
Uploaded by Felyx Teoh
