Between 2019 and 2024, Kalliopi Semertzidou, her partner, and six relatives reportedly received €2.5 million in subsidies.
Semertzidou was a coordinator for EU funds and women’s entrepreneurship in New Democracy, the party of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. She resigned last week, calling the allegations “slanderous” and insisting her actions were “transparent and legal.” The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is now involved. Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority raided OPEKEPE offices, seeking data on subsidies paid to individuals in Thessaly. Investigators are looking for signs of illicit wealth or undeclared income. If found, assets will be frozen and cases forwarded to European prosecutors.
Photos of Semertzidou’s luxury lifestyle, Ferraris, Porsches, and selfies with party leaders have gone viral.
The scandal has real consequences. Farmers in northern Greece are protesting delays in payments. Some subsidies have been frozen due to the ongoing investigations. The fallout could be political. As the probe widens, pressure is mounting on New Democracy and Prime Minister Mitsotakis to ensure accountability and transparency in EU fund distribution.