Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday replaced several ministers after a fresh round of resignations tied to a growing scandal over European Union farm payments. Investigators say lawmakers sought to divert EU agricultural subsidies illegally to favor their voter base.
Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras, Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis and Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos all resigned, denying any personal wrongdoing and saying they stepped down to allow investigators to work. Among the replacements was Margaritis Schinas, a former vice president of the European Commission, who was appointed agriculture minister.
Opposition parties rejected the cabinet changes and renewed demands for early elections, warning the controversy could unsettle the political landscape ahead of next year’s scheduled vote. Mitsotakis, who insists he was not in power when the alleged fraud began, pledged to jail those responsible and recover illicitly paid funds.
Legal hurdles complicate prosecution: Greece’s rules require parliament to lift officials’ immunity before ministers and lawmakers can be prosecuted, a step often blocked by governing majorities. This is the second wave of resignations linked to the affair after five senior officials stepped down last year.
Investigators have alleged offenses including breach of trust, computer fraud and false declarations. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has broadened its probe to at least 20 members of the ruling New Democracy party, encompassing current and former lawmakers. EPPO first disclosed details of the case last May, accusing beneficiaries of claiming land they did not own and exaggerating livestock numbers.
Authorities estimate the scheme may have channeled roughly €23 million in fraudulent payments since about 2018. Reported irregular claims have ranged from banana plantations on Mount Olympus to olive groves on a military airfield and grazing land on an archaeological site.
A large share of suspected fraud has been linked to Crete, where the Mitsotakis family has long had political influence. Official figures show about 80% of pasture subsidies awarded from 2017 to 2020 went to Crete. While the number of livestock farmers nationally has fallen, Crete registered some 13,000 new farmers between 2019 and 2025 and reported a doubling of declared sheep and goats over the same period.
Earlier phases of the investigation and police actions have already produced arrests and fines related to subsidy misuse.
Edited by: Sean Sinico