“Frapes” and Semertzidou Escape Parliamentary Inquiry – PASOK and SYRIZA Warn of New ‘Agorastos’

Opposition Sounds the Alarm

The Parliamentary Inquiry into OPEKEPE is once again at the center of political confrontation. The ND majority rejected the opposition’s request to immediately summon Giorgos Xylouris (aka “Frapes”) and Kalliopi Semertzidou. The request, submitted by PASOK’s spokesperson Milena Apostolaki, highlighted the risk that procedural actions could make the witnesses unavailable if the judiciary classifies them as defendants.

“We must not repeat the Agorastos precedent,” Apostolaki warned, referring to a previous delay in summoning a former regional governor that hindered full disclosure. The opposition stresses that both “Frapes” and Semertzidou should appear next week to ensure transparency and prevent the loss of critical information about the management of EU funds.

ND Majority Rejects the Request

The ND’s Makarios Lazaridis claimed the opposition is panicking over the testimony of Ms. Tychrelopoulou, who allegedly contradicted the minority’s narrative. Lazaridis rejected the immediate update of the witness list, arguing that all witnesses will be summoned according to procedural order and that “the judiciary will do its job.”

Millions at Stake

Recent findings revealed that Xylouris has undisclosed income exceeding €2.5 million and multiple luxury vehicles, while Semertzidou is implicated in a network exploiting EU subsidies. The Financial Intelligence Unit confirmed the irregularities in Xylouris’ assets, and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office placed Semertzidou at the center of a fraudulent scheme.

Face-to-Face Examination Needed

Opposition spokespeople, including Vasilis Kokalis and Alexandros Kazamias, emphasized the need for confrontational witness examinations. They also requested the summoning of additional figures, such as Minister of State Akis Skertsos and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, due to their knowledge of OPEKEPE issues dating back to 2019.

Risk of Silence

The stakes are high. If the two key witnesses become suspects or defendants, they could invoke the right to silence, preventing the Parliamentary Inquiry from collecting crucial evidence regarding OPEKEPE funding between 2015–2019.

Cover-Up or Institutional Order?

This controversy raises a critical question: is the ND majority acting in defense of institutional order or engaging in a cover-up? Upcoming sessions of the Inquiry are expected to be decisive, with public scrutiny conducted via live broadcast on one of Greece’s major scandals involving EU funds.

Statistics / Key Figures:

• €2.5+ million in undeclared income for “Frapes”
• 2 critical witnesses at risk of non-appearance
• 100% of witnesses requested by opposition deemed essential for full investigation

Source: pagenews.gr