ATHENS, Greece — European Union investigators looking into suspected agricultural subsidy fraud prompted the resignation of three Greek cabinet members on Friday.
Kostas Tsiaras, who served as Agriculture Minister, submitted his resignation alongside Civil Protection Minister Yiannis Kefalogiannis and Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Vartzopoulos. Each official maintained their innocence while stating their departures would help advance the ongoing probe.
European prosecutors are working to strip parliamentary immunity from 11 legislators connected to the case, which has sparked widespread public outrage across Greece and created uncertainty within agricultural communities.
The center-right administration moved swiftly to reorganize leadership, naming Margaritis Schinas, a former Vice President of the European Commission, to head the agriculture ministry.
Laura Codruta Kovesi, Europe’s top prosecutor, is directing the investigation and traveled to Athens for discussions with government leaders during the previous year.
The suspected fraud involves a Greek government agency that allegedly allowed improper use of European Union funding through fraudulent applications claiming false land ownership and livestock numbers.
This marks the second group of officials to leave their positions due to the controversy, following the departure of five high-ranking administrators in the previous year.
Greek agricultural communities are experiencing significant pressure, with widespread demonstrations erupting over delayed subsidy distributions connected to the ongoing investigation. Earlier this year, thousands of farmers brought tractors to Athens and other regions across central Greece in protest.
