A new clash erupted between the government and the opposition following the request by ND to send to the judiciary and the anti money laundering authority the testimonies of Kalliopi Semertzidou, her partner Christos Mageiria and Andreas Stratakis known as the butcher. ND sources expressed concern over the opposition's refusal to accept the proposal and criticized its decision to abstain from the vote. They highlighted that even more concerning was the stance of PASOK and its rapporteur Milena Apostolaki who described the majority's proposal as a degradation of the process a communication stunt and a cover up. According to ND circles It is impossible to call the referral of individuals to the judiciary and the anti money laundering authority a cover up. A cover up would be the exact opposite. And that is precisely what PASOK and the other opposition parties chose to do.
PASOK described the proposal as an ND communication performance stating Guilty and isolated ND chose to degrade the process in an attempt to manage widespread public belief that the government is covering up the truth regarding the OPEKEPE scandal using the same methodology it applied during the Tempi examination.
SYRIZA accused ND of attempting to create impressions following the uproar over lucky party members involved in the OPEKEPE scandal stating ND is again trying to create substance free impressions to mislead public opinion.
Political confrontation continues
ND Sources Why Does the Opposition Not Want the Super Lucky Investigated Are They Protecting Someone or Something
ND sources expressed concern and raised serious questions over the opposition's refusal to accept ND's proposal to refer Kalliopi Semertzidou Christos Mageiria and Andreas Stratakis to the prosecutor and the anti money laundering authority specifically regarding the amounts they or their relatives allegedly won from lottery games. They criticized the opposition's abstention during the vote.
The same sources repeated criticism toward the stance of PASOK and its rapporteur Milena Apostolaki who labeled the proposal as degradation communication stunt and cover up. They argued that the opposition's earlier implications about OPEKEPE super lucky individuals supposedly protected by ND now backfire.
They added that the majority has followed a clear principle since the start of the investigation everything and everyone will be examined to the end. They questioned why PASOK and the other opposition parties refuse the referral of the butcher and the farmer with the Ferrari to the judiciary and why they oppose verifying whether the alleged lottery winnings were genuine or linked to other activities. They asked whether the opposition fears something or whether one of its own members has won the lottery insisting that these simple questions require direct answers.
PASOK Sources ND is Staging a Communication Act by Sending the Semertzidou Stratakis Mageiria Testimonies to the Judiciary
PASOK sources argued that ND guilty and isolated chose to degrade the process in an attempt to manage public belief that the government is covering up the truth about the OPEKEPE scandal similar to what happened in the Tempi investigation.
They claimed that the government majority requested that the testimonies of Ms Semertzidou ND member Mr Stratakis ND candidate and Mr Mageiria whose testimony is not yet submitted be sent to the judiciary without stating any specific alleged offense.
PASOK reminded that luck has favored ND candidate Stratakis and Mr Mageiria who sought to join ND ballots noting that perhaps it is a coincidence that whoever is an ND member wins. They added that if ND wishes to investigate possible offenses by committee witnesses the first testimonies that should be forwarded to the judiciary are those of Mr Voridis and Mr Pappas for potential perjury.
PASOK sources also commented on the testimony of OPEKEPE certified auditor for the years 2021 and 2022 Despina Markopoulou noting that despite initially refusing she eventually testified providing useful information while declining to answer some key questions.
They highlighted her statements about accreditation criteria errors in payments and insufficient checks and her confirmation that since 2022 the EU had proposed placing OPEKEPE under supervision. She had informed OPEKEPE presidents Mela Babasis and Simandrakos about problems and gaps in accreditation criteria.
According to PASOK she also stated that delays or withholding of information occurred when she requested data and complaints confirming that the practice of hiding reports such as those left in drawers for months was incompatible with audit protocols. However she did not convincingly explain how she exercised her oversight role while aware of systemic dysfunction.
Markopoulou noted that frequent changes of directors and administrators worsened OPEKEPE's operation with officials lacking necessary experience. She stated that her audit opinions for 2021 2022 and 2023 were based on the data provided at the time and she did not know the content of the European Prosecutor's case file.
Regarding the known conflict of interest involving technical consultants and KID coordinators she declined to answer claiming these matters were outside her duties though she acknowledged that if she had later received additional information her audit opinion might have differed.
She also testified that Tasoulis was responsible for payments and sending final payment lists to the bank although he previously claimed he held only formal responsibilities. PASOK argued this contradiction reinforces the image of an organization with long standing entrenched officials now appearing uninvolved.
PASOK concluded that OPEKEPE is characterized by lack of transparency internal intervention and institutional discontinuity resulting in mismanagement of European funds and creating existential impasses for farmers.
SYRIZA Sources ND is Creating Impressions After the Uproar Over Lucky Party Members Involved in the OPEKEPE Scandal
SYRIZA sources stated that with public backlash over revelations that ND affiliated individuals involved in the OPEKEPE scandal appeared extraordinarily lucky justifying large sums in their bank accounts ND launched another smokescreen. Through its rapporteur M Lazaridis ND requested that the testimonies of the super lucky be sent to the prosecutor.
They argued that ND is again seeking substance free impressions to mislead the public trying to convince that the government majority is sending cases to the judiciary without specific evidence questions or documented offenses.
SYRIZA demanded that by Thursday 4 12 25 the date of Christos Mageiria's testimony members of the committee receive data from any tax audits by SDOE on the individuals mentioned as well as the 2020 OPEKEPE report to the Trikala prosecutor detailing 2018 audits on Mageiria and his family. They also requested all case files involving OPEKEPE officials in line with earlier submissions.
They noted that ND reluctantly accepted the first SYRIZA request but continues seeking to protect certain individuals and stage manage witness examinations to conceal or delay the truth regarding the scandal. They added that ND rejected auditor Markopoulou's request for non public testimony stating that such a request violates criminal procedure principles and no witness can receive privileged treatment.
