Following new revelations published today by the newspaper Kathimerini, PASOK–Movement for Change is demanding explanations from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis regarding when he first became aware of the OPEKEPE scandal.

According to a statement from the party’s press office, the former president of OPEKEPE, Evangelos Simandrakos, informed then Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, Yiannis Bratakos, in November and December 2023, via two memos, of the existence of 9,309 problematic VAT numbers. These cases, described as “sinners”, were reportedly excluded from payment disbursements at the time.

PASOK–KINAL accused the prime minister of feigning ignorance. “The hypocritical act of ‘I didn’t know, I didn’t know’, which the prime minister has been performing in recent days, has collapsed spectacularly. The Prime Minister’s office was not only aware of the mismanagement and corruption ‘party’ at OPEKEPE – it was covering it up all along,” the statement reads.

The party posed pointed questions to the prime minister, which it says remain unanswered:

  • Was the prime minister not informed by his closest associate about the existence of these ‘sinful’ VAT numbers? What exactly is discussed at the PM’s office, if not matters of this magnitude?

  • Why has he concealed this unprecedented scandal for two years?

The statement concludes by asserting that the latest revelations – set to be included in the official case file, according to Kathimerini – confirm that “a circle of New Democracy party officials, auditors and OPEKEPE executives enjoyed protection and cover at the highest levels of government.”

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