Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Grapples with Dual Political Crises

Introduction

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has returned to Athens to confront a dual political crisis that is testing the stability of his government. The conservative leader is navigating intense scrutiny over the lingering repercussions of the devastating Tempi rail tragedy and a widening scandal concerning fraudulent European Union agricultural subsidies. These issues have fueled public anger and eroded support for his New Democracy party.

Tempi Rail Tragedy: Demands for Justice Persist

The February 28, 2023, head-on collision between a passenger train and a freight train near Tempi Valley in Thessaly remains a deeply sensitive issue in Greece. The accident resulted in 57 deaths, with many victims being young students, and left 81 heavily injured and 99 lightly injured. Investigations have pointed to a combination of human error, outdated infrastructure, and major systemic failures, including a critical malfunction in the railway communication system.

Public outrage has been exacerbated by allegations of a government cover-up and tampering with evidence, including an audio recording. Mass protests and demonstrations have continued across Greece, demanding 'truth and justice' for the victims. Relatives of the deceased have filed criminal lawsuits against government officials. Recently, the hunger strike of Panos Ruci, demanding the exhumation and independent toxicological analysis of his son's remains, has brought renewed focus to the tragedy. While judicial authorities approved the exhumation for identification purposes, Ruci rejected the limited scope, stating, 'I accept none of this. They continue to mock us. I am here, and I continue the struggle to the end.' The government survived a no-confidence vote related to the crash in March 2025, with 157 votes in favor of the government against 136.

Agricultural Subsidies Scandal: Allegations of Widespread Fraud

Simultaneously, the Mitsotakis government is embroiled in a burgeoning scandal concerning fraudulent claims for EU agricultural subsidies, managed by the state agency OPEKEPE (Greek Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids). The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has described the operation as a 'criminal organization,' detailing fraudulent claims for non-existent farms, fictitious livestock, and inflated organic farming applications, including claims for 'banana plantations on Mount Olympus.'

The EPPO delivered a nearly 3,000-page report to the Hellenic Parliament, leading to the resignations of five senior officials, including former migration minister Makis Voridis. Allegations suggest that the Prime Minister's office was informed of and approved decisions to withhold payments to ineligible recipients, particularly from Crete, a political stronghold for Mitsotakis. Former agriculture ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis were reportedly aware of the corruption.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis has acknowledged government shortcomings, admitting, 'We have failed' to clean up 'clientelistic behavior' at OPEKEPE. He has ordered the agency to be shut down by the end of 2026, with its functions transferred to the Independent Authority for Public Revenues, and pledged to recover fraudulently obtained funds. However, he has supported a parliamentary inquiry while opposing a formal criminal investigation, stating, 'We do not see criminal responsibility.' The European Commission has already ordered Greece to forfeit nearly €400 million in funding for 2026 due to the fraud.

Political Ramifications

These dual crises have significantly impacted the political landscape in Greece. Public trust in institutions and the accountability of political figures has been severely tested. Opinion polls indicate a decline in support for the ruling New Democracy party, with figures dropping to around 25 percent from 41 percent in the 2019 election. Opposition parties are intensifying their efforts, demanding full parliamentary inquiries and accountability from government officials. The challenges underscore a period of heightened political pressure for Prime Minister Mitsotakis as his government attempts to address these complex issues amidst widespread public discontent.