She described the accusations as “a targeted and slanderous attack with false claims” and emphasized in her resignation letter that her actions were “transparent and legal.”
The Greek branch of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is now waiting for results from the Anti-Money Laundering Authority, which searched the OPEKEPE offices on Wednesday. The search aimed to gather information about EU subsidies granted to individuals from the Thessaly area, including Semertzidou, as stated by officials involved in the probe.
Authorities have indicated that if they discover evidence of unlawful gains or a lifestyle inconsistent with reported income, they will freeze assets and pass the case to European prosecutors.
In a growing scandal, EPPO is investigating numerous cases where Greeks received agricultural funds from the European Union for properties they neither owned nor rented, or for agricultural work they didn’t conduct, thus depriving rightful farmers of deserved funds. POLITICO initially exposed the scheme in February.
Images of Semertzidou’s extravagant lifestyle, depicting her in a Ferrari and a Porsche, along with selfies with New Democracy leaders, have spread on social media.
The couple asserts that the subsidies they received were lawful and that the luxury vehicles were purchased long ago, mentioning they have been through several audits by authorities and were exonerated.
Meanwhile, farmers in Northern Greece have started demonstrations due to delays in subsidy payouts from OPEKEPE. Some payments have been suspended amid ongoing legal investigations.
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