Senior government ministers, including the Minister of Migration and former Minister of Agriculture Makis Voridis, have resigned after their names appeared in the dossier on the scandal with the Greek agency for distributing European agricultural subsidies - OPEKEPE, reported. "Kathimerini", quoted by news.bg.
The results of the investigation were submitted to parliament last week by the European Public Prosecutor.
The officials who resigned are Migration Minister Makis Voridis, Deputy Foreign Minister Tassos Hatzivasileu, Deputy Rural Development Minister Dionis Stamenitis, Deputy Digital Governance Minister Christos Boukoros and General Secretary of Rural Development and Food Giorgos Stratakos.
Their resignations were announced by government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis. He also announced the letter of resignation of Makis Voridis.
However, Pavlos Marinakis added that their replacements will be announced in the coming days.
In his letter, Voridis insists on his innocence, stating that after reviewing the case file on Thursday, there is no evidence that he has committed any violation.
"Yesterday, the case file was read in parliament and I familiarized myself with its contents. What I already knew has been confirmed: there is not a single element in this file that would indicate that I have committed any crime," Makis Voridis declared.
However, according to policy, after PASOK proposed the creation of a preliminary investigation committee to investigate possible violations on his part, he can no longer remain a minister.
"In order to devote myself fully to what is most important to me, to defending my innocence before parliament, as well as to protecting my honor and reputation, I hereby submit my resignation from the post of Minister of Migration and Asylum and kindly ask you to accept it," the letter concludes.
Last week, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPO) announced that it had presented evidence to the Greek parliament regarding the alleged involvement of two former agriculture ministers in the embezzlement of European Union funds through OPEKEPE.
We recall that OPEKEPE is the agency responsible for managing EU agricultural subsidies for Greek farmers.
Last month, the government announced that it would close it down following revelations of fraud with EU agricultural subsidies.