The government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis wants to turn the page after the difficult chapter written last week, marked by the stormy two-day parliamentary session on OPEKEPE, opposition accusations of cover-up, and subsequent allegations of irregular decision-making in rejecting PASOK and SYRIZA/New Left proposals to establish a preliminary investigation committee for Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis.
The government camp believes that necessary explanations and clarifications were provided by MPs who participated in the two-day process, particularly by the prime minister himself, who insisted on the need to establish an investigative committee for the Organization’s operation from its founding to today, to “address deeply rooted pathologies and cross-party failures, identify possible responsibilities, and ultimately lead to a catharsis that will build a better tomorrow for farmers, livestock breeders, and ultimately the country itself.”
Regarding procedural allegations, the government’s position was outlined by government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, who noted that “since the conditions for decision-making were met and the required majority was not achieved, there is no issue of pending proposals to be put to vote. The discussion was declared concluded, quorum was established. The vote took place. The proposals were not approved.”
OPEKEPE: The first goal of the investigative committee for full transparency and accountability
The challenge now is to quickly establish the investigative committee, begin its smooth operation, and through this three-month process, convince citizens that New Democracy can indeed identify all historical responsibilities regarding OPEKEPE’s operation, find and correct all wrongdoings, and restore credibility to the agricultural subsidy payment system. This is undoubtedly a difficult mission, given both the opposition’s approach to this investigative committee and how nearly all parliamentary investigative committees established in recent decades have evolved and concluded.
The Maximos Mansion emphasizes that the government approaches the investigative committee unitedly rather than defensively, and is the first to acknowledge its own responsibilities, as already shown by the decision to absorb OPEKEPE into AADE and the removal of one minister and three deputy ministers as soon as the case file reached Parliament. They also don’t reject the possibility that if new evidence emerges through the investigative committee and new facts arise, if evidence and serious testimonies revealing responsibilities are submitted, the establishment of a preliminary investigation committee could be considered at the end.
The Task Force’s role in the path to cleansing
The second challenge is, parallel to this process, for public opinion to see tangible results from the Task Force established in cooperation between AADE and the Economic Police, to search for all persons who received illegal subsidies and recover all related amounts.
Indeed, Mr. Mitsotakis used his latest television interview before the Thessaloniki International Fair to send a message in all directions that this “party” is over. “We will start, and I think this is logical, with those who were dancing in the center of the dance floor, not those who might have been on the periphery, somewhere in the corner. In other words, with those who are currently being investigated, already a large number of tax registration numbers. Those who took the big money,” the prime minister stated.
Government’s turn to positive agenda and showcasing achievements
Meanwhile, efforts continue to highlight achievements and promote the government’s positive initiatives. In this context, the Maximos Mansion will attempt on Monday to turn publicity spotlight to the fact that Greece’s 13 satellites will soon be launched into space, and our country will thus acquire a modern and essential “tool” and simultaneously a comparative advantage in many sectors: Defense, Civil Protection, Migration-Refugee issues, and others. This significantly increases the country’s geopolitical power, thanks to the observation and risk assessment capabilities offered by microsatellites.
Thus, on Monday, Kyriakos Mitsotakis together with the Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, will visit the Athens offices of European space tech company ICEYE, which manufactures the radars for Greek microsatellites here, allowing Greece to monitor critical areas of interest, significantly enhancing its capabilities in natural disaster detection and maritime surveillance. Mr. Mitsotakis wants to emphasize both the fact that radars are being manufactured in Greece for the first time that we will subsequently send to space, and that a major European company has established itself in Athens, contributing to the so-called brain regain, the return of Greeks from abroad.
Published in Parapolitika
