Greek ministers resign amid EU farming subsidy scandal

Resignations and Investigation

Greek Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras, Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis, and Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos resigned following a probe into alleged misuse of EU agricultural subsidies. The scandal involves accusations that members of the New Democracy party improperly accessed funds through fraudulent land and livestock claims. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has expanded its investigation to at least 20 party members, including current and former lawmakers, alleging a scheme that may have diverted €23 million since 2018. Opposition parties have called for early elections, citing instability ahead of a 2027 parliamentary vote. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged to pursue prosecutions and recover misused funds, but legal challenges persist. Greek law requires parliamentary action to lift immunity for ministers, a process often blocked by the ruling majority, fueling public frustration over perceived political protection.

Fraudulent Land Claims and Regional Disparities

The fraud exploited weaknesses in Greece’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) system, which distributes subsidies based on land area rather than livestock. Investigators allege false claims for properties such as banana plantations on Mount Olympus, olive groves near a military airport, and pastures on an archaeological site. Most fraudulent subsidies were directed to Crete, where the Mitsotakis family’s political influence has historically shaped policies. Data shows 80% of pasture subsidies from 2017–2020 went to Crete, with 13,000 new farmers registered between 2019–2025 and a doubling of declared sheep and goats in the same period. These figures have raised concerns about systemic manipulation, as Greece’s overall livestock farmer numbers have declined.