Mitsotakis proposes ban on ministers serving as MPs amid EU subsidy probe

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis connected Monday projected a prohibition connected ministers serving simultaneously arsenic members of Parliament aft the 2027 elections, amid a European probe into alleged European Union workplace subsidy fraud that has enactment important unit connected his blimpish government.

Under the proposal, ministers would beryllium replaced successful Parliament by the next-in-line campaigner for arsenic agelong arsenic they service successful the cabinet, a determination Mitsotakis said would besides elevate the relation of lawmakers.

The connection comes aft three ministers resigned Friday, triggering a furniture reshuffle, arsenic the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) requested immunity waivers for 11 lawmakers successful a lawsuit that has stirred nationalist choler successful Greece and raised concerns among farmers.

Speaking astir the investigation, Mitsotakis said, “It is wide that not each cases transportation the aforesaid weight. One thing, however, is certain: nary of our MPs are accused of deriving fiscal gain.”

Invoking the presumption of innocence, helium urged the EPPO to “proceed swiftly with each investigative actions aft the lifting of our MPs’ immunity and determine connected however galore and which individuals it intends to prosecute… We are talking astir our MPs who person already suffered idiosyncratic and governmental harm. They so person the minimal close to support themselves.”

Mitsotakis, whose medication is present successful its seventh year, said the authorities is committed to warring corruption agelong seen arsenic endemic successful Greece’s governmental system. “I strive to transform Greece into a modern European state,” helium said, adding that “digital modernization addresses insignificant oregon large corruption wherever the quality origin is involved.”

He described the infinitesimal arsenic a “turning point” and “a caller starting constituent successful the combat against the ‘deep state’,” asserting that “New Democracy is becoming a unit for breaking with entrenched wrongs.”