File photo. [InTime News]
The farm subsidy fraud case is expected to dominate Greece’s political agenda this week, as a case file involving two former ministers is set to be debated in Parliament.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has forwarded a file naming former agriculture minister Spilios Livanos and former deputy minister Fotini Arabatzi.
Under the Greek constitution, only Parliament can prosecute current or former ministers for offenses linked to their official duties. Any proceedings require the formation of a special investigative committee, with cases ultimately tried in a Special Court. Lawmakers will now decide whether to establish such a committee. Previous efforts to examine ministerial responsibility in the case were dropped by the ruling New Democracy party.
Last week, Parliament lifted the immunity of 13 lawmakers to allow investigations into their alleged involvement in the case to proceed.
At the Delphi Forum, European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi described allegations surrounding Greece’s agricultural payments agency, OPEKEPE, as involving “corruption, nepotism and clientelism,” urging accountability for those responsible.
Libya visit
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will travel to Tripoli on Monday for talks with senior Libyan officials, including Presidential Council Chairman Mohamed al-Menfi, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, Acting Foreign Minister Al Taher Salem Al Baour and Acting Oil Minister Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek.
Gerapetritis visited eastern Libya last month to discuss maritime boundaries and migration flows.
Wiretapping case
Greece’s top prosecutor has ruled out reopening a high-profile wiretapping case, despite a court request for further investigation into possible additional offenses and suspects.
The Supreme Court prosecutor said the elements cited by the lower court do not constitute new evidence and therefore do not justify reopening the case. The Court of First Instance had previously asked for review of potential additional crimes involving four convicted individuals and others.
The decision is expected to deepen political tensions between the government and opposition.
Air travel
Aegean Airlines will resume flights to Tel Aviv on Tuesday, after suspending operations at the start of the Gulf conflict. Services from Iraklio to Tel Aviv will restart April 30, while Athens-Riyadh, Athens-Amman and Larnaca-Tel Aviv routes will resume May 21.
Fire season
Greece’s wildfire season is set to begin at the end of the week, with authorities warning of heightened risk due to dense vegetation following heavy winter rainfall. Already, 182 wildfires have been recorded over the past two weeks.