Mitsotakis backs MPs in OPEKEPE case, says European prosecutors' work fell short

Constitutional revision and opposition boycott

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis opened his closing remarks to the New Democracy parliamentary group by thanking MPs who participated in the constitutional revision committee, describing their work as substantive and well-prepared. He said the effort was undermined because, unlike previous attempts, the opposition chose not to take part. Mitsotakis called for strong participation in the upcoming plenary debate, framing it as a chance to highlight both the importance of the articles under review and what he called the hypocritical stance of other parties, led by PASOK. He accused PASOK of violating the spirit and letter of the constitution by claiming it will secure the 180 MPs needed in the next parliament, rather than working within the current one.

The OPEKEPE case and party solidarity

The bulk of the session, which lasted over two hours and saw 26 MPs take the floor, focused on the OPEKEPE agricultural subsidy investigation. Mitsotakis thanked colleagues who spoke with dignity and sincerity, acknowledging the emotion was understandable. He addressed both those whose cases were archived and those who will still have to give explanations to the justice system. Nine of the 13 New Democracy MPs originally targeted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office had their cases dropped. Mitsotakis said it raised a reasonable question why this could not have happened from the start, when the arguments and the case file were extremely weak.

For the four MPs still facing proceedings, Mitsotakis offered full backing. He said he listened carefully to what Makis Voridis and other MPs said, and expressed his wish that the case ends soon so the party can leave the ordeal behind. He told the referred lawmakers that what happened to them could happen to anyone, and that the party is a fist on this matter. At the same time, he stressed that the government is not there to cover up any illegality, but argued that the situation is fundamentally different from what was initially portrayed.

Criticism of the European Public Prosecutor's Office

Mitsotakis turned to the role of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, stating there is no return from the institution itself, but raising questions about how it handled these specific cases. He said prosecutors are judged by results, and their job is to bring solid cases to court. In this instance, he argued, the outcome showed the work was not done as it should have been. The remarks reflect lingering frustration within the party over the second OPEKEPE case file, which many MPs raised during the session.

Prosecutors are judged by results. Their job is to send solid cases to court, and the outcome showed that this work was not done as it should have been.

Institutional safeguards and next steps

Beyond the immediate case, Mitsotakis said the core issue concerns the limits of an MP's role and how to shield public administration so that lawmakers can operate in a way that guarantees transparency and accountability. He did not announce specific legislative measures but indicated the discussion would continue with the same regularity. The prime minister closed by thanking MPs again and expressing satisfaction with the debate, signalling that the party intends to move forward from the OPEKEPE episode while keeping pressure on the European prosecutorial body.