Regarding the OPEKEPE case, Development Minister Takis Theodorikaros spoke on the morning of Holy Wednesday 8/04 on SKAI, emphasizing that “this is a chronic scandal, where hundreds of people received more money than they were entitled to. The case must be fully investigated, the money must be returned, and those who broke the law must face the criminal responsibilities that correspond to them.” “Our party has always served one value: transparency, justice, legality, responsibility everywhere. This is what we all must put into practice,” Mr. Theodorikaros noted.
The Development Minister pointed out that it raises serious questions why this issue is coming to public attention piecemeal from the European Prosecutor’s Office. “The case file traveled for several months. The colleagues who are being investigated have given their own arguments and to their credit immediately requested the lifting of their immunity so that their case can be fully clarified. They are not defendants, they are not accused of taking money for their personal benefit. I want to believe that this process will run quickly and I believe that the end of this investigation will find our colleagues innocent,” he noted. He then emphasized that “the moral devaluation being attempted by opposition forces against New Democracy and the government majority will not succeed and is something that also harms our democracy.”
Takis Theodorikaros on OPEKEPE: The characterization “majority of defendants” is unacceptable, despicable and unfounded
He also stressed that no one should remain silent in the face of this campaign to devalue the party. “The characterization ‘majority of defendants’ is unacceptable, despicable and unfounded. Immunity has been lifted for dozens of MPs from all parties. In PASOK, one in five of its MPs, for various reasons, has had their immunity lifted, with their consent. No one called them a party of defendants. Therefore, let them calm down politically and let the opposition take care to speak with seriousness and responsibility.”
The Development Minister referred to the global crisis that has occurred and affects economies around the world, therefore also the Greek economy. “Instead of all of us discussing and moving united for the good of our country in this very critical juncture, some want to say that everything is the fault of a scandalous government,” he stressed and added that “the tactic that New Democracy followed as opposition and the last seven years as Government is to speak the language of truth.”
Mr. Theodorikaros reminded that he follows the principle of transparency in the Development Ministry. In this context, regarding the hundreds of investment projects from older development laws that were not completed, he noted that “we have already taken back 110 million euros from 145 companies. Every last euro of the Greek taxpayer will be respected, so that this money goes to real investments.”
Mr. Theodorikaros made special reference to the 13 investment projects that fall under the Large Investments regime, which will create 700 new jobs. “They concern the periphery and difficult areas such as Kastoria, Komotini, Larissa and Ioannina,” as he said. At the same time, the Development Minister emphasized that Greek industry will also be supported with 200 million euros from the Modernisation Fund for 2026 and 100 million euros per year will be given for the next 5 years to reduce energy costs.
He pointed out that next week “three new regimes of the Development Law are coming for processing, large investments and border areas and we will give the opportunity to dozens of investment projects to receive subsidies. It is a very big matter for fresh money to fall into the economy.”
Finally, Mr. Theodorikaros characterized as particularly important in practice the reform for the creation of the new Independent Market Control and Consumer Protection Authority, something that everyone now admits, as he said characteristically. “We put in place the legislative framework with the very strict measure of price caps on fuel, food and basic maintenance items, the Authority must implement it with very strict controls and fines for those who violate the law,” he emphasized.
