The Greek Parliament has approved today by a wide majority the removal of immunity for 13 MPs of the ruling party New Democracy, following the request of the European Prosecutor, which is investigating two new files for the mismanagement of OPECPE agricultural subsidies in 2021.
The decision of the Assembly paves the way for direct investigations by the European authorities.
288 MPs participated in the electronic voting, while 9 were absent.
The results showed almost unanimous support for lifting immunity, with 285 to 287 votes in favor and only 2 votes against.
According to Greek media, at least 10 of the MPs involved voted themselves in favor of lifting their immunity.
The two deputies who voted against the removal of immunity were ND deputy Katerina Papakosta, who nevertheless voted in favor of her immunity, as well as independent deputy Konstantinos Floros.
Three New Democracy MPs (Notis Mitarakis, Stelios Petsas, Miltos Chrysomallis), five independent MPs (Panagiotis Paraskevaidis, Pavlos Sarakis, Giorgos Aspiotis, Antonis Samaras and Marios Salmas) as well as the SYRIZA MP, Katerina Notopoulou, were counted among the absences. SYRIZA clarified that Notopoulou’s vote was sent by post but was not delivered in time and will be counted in favor of the removal of immunity.
The European chief prosecutor had earlier sought the lifting of immunity for 13 active lawmakers, including the former agriculture and civil defense ministers, so that they could be investigated for their suspected roles in the subsidy scheme.
Greek lawmakers cannot be investigated by the judiciary without the approval of the parliament, so this vote was decisive for the initiation of the proceedings.
