Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will deliver a televised message at 12 noon on Monday, under the “shadow” of the OPEKEPE case and new developments with the massive case files from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which include names of ruling party MPs. In his message to citizens, the prime minister will attempt to clarify the government’s position on the OPEKEPE case and outline the next steps.
Mitsotakis address on OPEKEPE – What the prime minister will say tomorrow
As reported by ERT, in the first part of his intervention, Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to address the internal party dimensions of the case, emphasizing the differentiation of cases included in the case file. The government position, which is expected to be clearly outlined, is that not all cases can be treated as a unified whole, as – it is noted – there are both cases of limited legal significance and more serious ones.
In this context, emphasis is expected to be placed on the need to accelerate procedures and clearly separate responsibilities, with the goal – as emphasized – to “separate the wheat from the chaff.” At the same time, there may be indirect references to the opposition, with criticism about how they are politically handling the case, particularly regarding the selective highlighting of evidence.
The second part of the message will focus on the reform dimension, with the prime minister attempting to highlight the dividing line that – as the government maintains – has already been drawn at OPEKEPE. Special emphasis is expected to be placed on the complete digitization of the payment and control system, an intervention presented as crucial for ensuring transparency, as it drastically limits the scope for human intervention and external pressures.
Indeed, this specific reference is estimated to be a central point of the message, as government sources note that the new system leaves no room for interventions that in the past could have influenced the subsidy payment process.
The confrontation with the “deep state”
At the same time, however, the prime minister mentioned in his Sunday review that tomorrow, Monday, he will refer in more detail to the confrontation with the so-called “deep state,” presenting the OPEKEPE case as the starting point of a broader effort to clean up the state mechanism.
“After seven years of governance, the easiest thing would be to talk only about achievements. However, true responsibility is judged in moments when we confront the chronic and cross-party pathologies of the country, as well as our own failures. Two elements that unfortunately met in the OPEKEPE case. I speak, in fact, in the past tense, since what occupies current affairs now has already been overcome after the absorption of this ailing organization by AADE. Today, for example, compensations are determined digitally without human intervention. While related measurements are no longer made by actors susceptible to pressure, but by satellites that monitor crops and modern means that count livestock,” he initially emphasized in his weekly Sunday review.
“The lessons, however, from this negative experience remain. Not only for more effective and fairer support of our farmers. But also as a new starting point for a more dynamic confrontation of the State with the ‘Deep State’. For these, however, I will take a much more detailed position tomorrow,” Mr. Mitsotakis noted.
At the same time, there may be self-critical references, following recent statements by the prime minister, aimed at sending the message that the government recognizes weaknesses, but simultaneously insists that crucial steps have already been taken in the right direction.
Meeting on inflation ahead of Easter
Subsequently, around 1 PM, the prime minister will chair a broad meeting at the Maximos Mansion, with the main topic being inflation, ahead of Easter.
Information indicates that the meeting will evaluate the results of ongoing market inspections, aimed at ensuring compliance with price caps on fuel and basic food items. As has become known, the focus of inspections is on approximately 102 businesses, mainly in the wholesale sector.
