Laura Kövesi is right. Greece is a corrupt nation, with corruption spanning all levels of the political hierarchy. This was the essence of her remarks in a recent interview with Euractiv—one of her last, as she is set to be replaced in October 2026.
Campaign of attacks by politicians and EU officials
The head of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) presents a damning indictment of the Greek political system, noting she was targeted by Greek politicians. While she did not name them, it is well known that current ministers in the Mitsotakis government have labeled her stance as "obsessive," a sentiment the Prime Minister himself has reportedly echoed in discussions with EU officials. Furthermore, a senior European Commission official reportedly asked her to tone down the public disclosure of corruption cases she was investigating, to which she reacted strongly by asserting the EPPO's independence. One wonders if these events are interconnected.
Investigation into Tempi blocked at the ministerial level
The core issue remains that the European Prosecutor's mandate is to investigate all sources of corruption involving European funds, regardless of the official's rank. However, Greek laws make such investigations effectively impossible. According to Kövesi, Greek legislation prevents the investigation of political figures—clearly referencing Article 86, which grants the Hellenic Parliament exclusive authority to investigate potential offenses by cabinet members. She cited the 2022 Tempi disaster as a primary example, where the probe was halted before reaching the political figures responsible for Contract 717.
Tragic stance of Karamanlis and Triantopoulos in Parliament
It is worth recalling that the Tempi crime was met with what amounts to a parliamentary coup, as Karamanlis and Triantopoulos avoided the Preliminary Investigation Committee—which would have scrutinized potential felony acts—opting instead for the slower pace of regular justice. Such a move, where politicians treat Parliamentary Committees with total disregard, is unheard of elsewhere. Kövesi concluded that only a constitutional amendment could end this unacceptable practice.
Avoiding a Preliminary Committee to save Voridis
A similar pattern emerged in the OPEKEPE (Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid) case. The European Public Prosecutor's Office has gathered substantial evidence regarding the squandering of European funds, with its initial findings pointing to a criminal organization and targeting two former ministers, Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. Once again, Article 86 blocked further investigation into their roles, while the proposal to form a Preliminary Committee was voted down by the New Democracy (ND) party, leveraging its parliamentary majority.
Dystopia: A file on politicians that must go to Parliament instead of Justice
A second report on the OPEKEPE matter is expected, which will specifically name additional political figures, 90% of whom belong to the ND party. Specifically, there is a file containing over 200 cases of misappropriation and illegal fund payments. This is the very definition of corruption. Despite the fact that the EPPO has built cases against former and current ministers, it cannot indict them directly; it must defer to the Parliament. This is a tragic dystopia: a system where responsibility cannot be assigned directly to the culprits, leaving the decision to a manufactured parliamentary majority.
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