Four high-ranking Greek government officials, including a cabinet minister, three deputy ministers and a senior ministry secretary, have resigned following the release of evidence implicating them in a major EU agricultural subsidy scandal.

The resignations come in the wake of revelations concerning the misuse of funds administered through the Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE), the public body responsible for managing and disbursing agricultural subsidies under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

Makis Voridis, Minister of Migration and Asylum, resigned alongside Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tassos Hadjivassiliou, Deputy Minister of Rural Development Dionysis Stamenitis, and Deputy Minister of Digital Governance Christos Boukoros. Giorgos Stratakos, Secretary General at the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, also stepped down.

The resignations were formally accepted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated:

“It is announced that the Minister of Immigration and Asylum Makis Voridis submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister, for the reasons stated in the letter which is attached. The Prime Minister accepted his resignation.”

The publication of a 3,000-page case file by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has rocked the government, exposing allegations of political interference, corruption, and fraudulent allocation of EU funds through OPEKEPE. The case file includes dozens of intercepted conversations involving ministers, MPs, and officials.

Replacements for the outgoing officials are expected to be announced in the coming days.

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