The statement singles out former minister of rural development Spilios Livanos, who remains chairman of HELLENiQ Energy despite being under investigation for serious offences during the period covered by the scandal. SYRIZA described his continued presence in the role as institutionally unacceptable. The party also raised questions about the decision to assign a stake to ExxonMobil in an offshore exploration block in the Ionian Sea, for which Livanos cast the deciding vote.
The statement stressed that the government bears full political responsibility and must provide explanations, and that SYRIZA will continue to press for transparency and accountability.
The full text of the statement follows:
‘The OPEKEPE scandal directly exposes the New Democracy government for managing European funds on clientelist and opaque terms. The resignations of ministers confirm the magnitude of the scandal and highlight its complete failure to protect the public interest.
‘Even more provocative is the case of former minister of rural development Spilios Livanos, who is under investigation for criminal acts during the period of the scandal yet remains president of HELLENiQ Energy at the proposal of the state, in a company in which the state maintains a crucial 31% stake.
‘A person under such serious investigation cannot be allowed to manage one of the country’s largest energy companies. The decision to retain him constitutes a direct violation of the principles of transparency and basic institutional responsibility. The country’s energy and strategic infrastructure cannot be managed under the shadow of scandal.
‘The government bears full political responsibility and must provide immediate explanations.
‘Unless his remaining in the position of president serves the need to provide answers about the decision to assign a 15% stake to ExxonMobil in “block 2” in the Ionian Sea, with the consent vote of Mr Livanos, for which to date no clear explanations have been given regarding the price and terms of this decision, neither to Greek society nor to parliament.
‘SYRIZA will insist until the end on transparency, accountability and the protection of public property.’
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