One of the two case files under investigation includes a case involving Christos Boukoros, who allegedly intervened in 2021 with the then president of OPEKEPE, Dimitris Melas, on behalf of a livestock farming couple. According to the recorded conversation, the MP appears to persistently request resolution of the issue, citing pressure he was receiving from the interested producer due to deadlines.
In a dialogue between them, the following is mentioned:
Christos Boukoros, New Democracy MP: President, I’m going to kill myself, president… I’ve sent something over there for the livestock farmer to resolve it, that kid whose grandfather died and didn’t continue… And he tells me, “uncle, the system closes in five days, what will I do?”
Dimitris Melas, former OPEKEPE president: Listen, let me tell you, I will personally fix this issue for you even though it’s a deviation.
Christos Boukoros, New Democracy MP: It’s not such a deviation, because this producer would have received rights anyway, as a young farmer, but given that his grandfather died, he didn’t want to present a lease agreement with a deceased person, that’s why he turned to the technical solution.
Dimitris Melas, former OPEKEPE president: Yes, my dear Christos, ok. I understand the problem, that’s why I told you I’ll fix it for you. But my problem was the following. Not mine personally, but as the OPEKEPE system. Just like with some other cases the minister declared, some monasteries with annual contracts and such things that changed… and he wrote in the ministry’s announcement that this thing should go after the clearance payment.
Christos Boukoros, New Democracy MP: This one person, this is the one I want you to fix for me early, he will go bankrupt if it goes later.
Dimitris Melas, former OPEKEPE president: We will make a supplementary allocation in very specific cases and we’ll include him in there and make a supplementary payment at the end of February. But this one…
Christos Boukoros, New Democracy MP: The producer can’t wait until then, he won’t be able to feed his animals. Can’t we see it a bit so they can get in with… they won’t abandon. It’s really difficult for a young couple to feed their herd honestly without having a dime.
OPEKEPE: What the livestock farming couple’s circle says
The circle of the livestock farming couple, speaking to Live News, argued that the couple did nothing illegal as they simply asked to receive the money they are legally entitled to.
“This specific couple has been livestock farmers since 2017. They entered with their own pastures that they have from their grandfather. In 2018 the grandfather died, but the lease agreements were valid until 2020. They considered it ethical and honest to go by the letter of the law and not declare the grandfather’s lease agreements. The state gave them the opportunity to go with the technical solution. But 10 days before they were to be paid, a ministerial decision came out that reversed things and didn’t allow them to be paid.
“They called OPEKEPE, but couldn’t get anywhere. The couple approached Boukoros who is their relative, but they never threatened him with a weapon or anything else. They are not such people. They are working people who haven’t given rights anywhere. They didn’t do anything illegal. They asked to receive the money they are legally entitled to, with an objection to OPEKEPE, which was vindicated.”
