“There is no election issue. We are on a bicycle and we must keep pedaling,” said Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, speaking on SKAI TV, referring to the issue of a possible early resort to the polls. Regarding the OPEKEPE case, he said that next week a bill will come to vote, which will provide for the absorption of the organization by AADE.
“We are trying in two different ways to ensure farmers continue to receive subsidies: one is the bold decision to abolish OPEKEPE and absorb it into AADE, which has proven reliability, and the second way is to recover the unduly paid amounts,” he emphasized. “Both ways show domestically and to Brussels that we are not changing pages, but chapters,” he added.
“I myself met last week with the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Hansen, where I made it clear that we will proceed quickly, as the Prime Minister said. There will be absorption of OPEKEPE by AADE. Already in a bill from the Ministry of National Economy and Finance next week in Parliament there is the first provision and other regulations will follow. All this will be done in a very organized way, so that the shadows stop and farmers’ subsidies are paid in the meantime.”
“The second thing we are doing is what was announced on Monday, namely that the Financial Police in cooperation with AADE and the Ministry of Rural Development will check the amounts that have been paid and on the administrative side will seek the unduly paid amounts. On the criminal side, responsibilities will be sought wherever they exist,” he said.
Hatzidakis on OPEKEPE: “No other names emerge from the case file”
“I could say that all this has been happening since Greece joined the EEC, I won’t say that. I could say it happens in other European countries too, I won’t say that,” Mr. Hatzidakis said immediately after, agreeing with the Prime Minister that on the OPEKEPE issue the government should have acted with greater determination.
“In all countries they try to support farmers and let’s speak honestly, there are sometimes thoughts that ‘well my child, the money comes from Brussels, the villages must live etc.’ Thoughts that you wouldn’t call unreasonable prevailed in their extreme form, as was evident from the dialogues. That’s why there was all this reaction from the Prime Minister,” he noted and added:
“From those who in one way or another appear to have encouraged unlawful acts, resignations were requested. From examination of the case file, no other such issues with names emerge, so we will not have other resignations. Now the issue of elections is not raised. However, two issues are raised: the pending matters from now on at Parliament level and the government agenda. We have a mandate until 2027 to proceed.”
At the same time, he informed that New Democracy is currently studying the case file and will wait to see what PASOK will do, which has pre-announced a preliminary investigation committee. “We will move away from witch hunts and obviously away from any logic of cover-up. We know that right now there is a magnifying glass over us and therefore we must rise to the occasion.”
Hatzidakis on Greek Stock Exchange acquisition: “We’re changing category, it certifies the progress made in the Greek economy”
Regarding the potential acquisition of the Greek Stock Exchange, Kostis Hatzidakis emphasized among other things:
“It is a private company, it is also listed. It’s no secret that our Stock Exchange had problems for years. This move, if it proceeds, is a vote of confidence in the Greek economy and also an upgrade of the Capital Market in Greece. We’re changing category, going to the first division. It’s a step that certifies the progress made in the Greek economy. It’s up to the company whether it will accept and under what terms.”
