Clash Between ND and PASOK Over OPEKEPE: Bounakis Case Sparks Political Firestorm

Political tensions in Greece have reached a new high, as New Democracy (ND) accuses PASOK-KINAL official Nikos Bounakis of involvement in the OPEKEPE case, specifically concerning declarations of agricultural land around Lake Karla. PASOK-KINAL responds sharply, denouncing what it calls “political smearing and distraction tactics.”

According to ND’s announcement, the Declaration Submission Center (KYD) of Proactive AE, where Bounakis serves as CEO, allegedly declared public lands at Lake Karla for subsidies, on behalf of farmers who had no connection to the area. The government frames this as a serious matter requiring investigation, with the case expected to be discussed in the Parliamentary Investigative Committee starting next Tuesday.

From the opposition’s side, PASOK-KINAL responds with vehemence. “Old tricks won’t work, gentlemen of New Democracy,” the party said, emphasizing that Bounakis is fully available for any investigation and that the company has operated in compliance with OSDES and OPEKEPE rules, bearing no responsibility for potential errors made by the farmers themselves.

The public statement by Bounakis on ANTENNA’s main news broadcast, along with detailed evidence about land declarations, undermines part of the government’s narrative, showing that the submissions were made based on farmers’ own documents and approved by OPEKEPE, without any intervention from KYD.

Political Implications

The case has strong political dimensions, as ND appears to use the issue to divert attention from the true actors involved in the OPEKEPE scandal and to put pressure on PASOK-KINAL leadership. The opposition accuses the government of “weaponizing justice and parliamentary procedures”, highlighting that this smear campaign aims to mislead public opinion.

Meanwhile, Proactive AE and Bounakis have announced plans to take legal action to defend their reputation, stressing that the company had neither the authority nor the ability to verify the legality of lease agreements, which are approved and paid directly by OPEKEPE.

What to Expect

Political tensions are expected to peak during the Investigative Committee meeting on Tuesday, with PASOK demanding full transparency and holding the government accountable for how the OPEKEPE scandal developed from 2019 to the present. Upcoming sessions are likely to shed light on all “questionable” taxpayer IDs and subsidy payment procedures, while the ND-PASOK confrontation signals that the OPEKEPE political battle will dominate the news in the coming weeks.

The case of Nikos Bounakis and the KYD of Proactive AE highlights not just agricultural subsidies but also the political tactics used to muddy the waters and mislead public opinion, intensifying the political warfare between government and opposition.

Source: pagenews.gr