A significant investigation by the National Authority for Transparency has revealed that there are 372 problematic benefit files associated with OPKEA, a government agency responsible for social benefits in Greece. These files, dated from 2020 to 2022, showed irregularities that have resulted in a total of €1.86 million being paid out improperly. Issues included applications submitted outside of protocol, incomplete documentation, and approvals that did not meet the specified criteria, raising concerns about compliance and governance within the agency.

The investigation was initiated in November 2023, prompted by reports regarding 'off-the-record' files and handwritten applications that had not been properly recorded in the system. Following these claims, an emergency internal audit was conducted, where it was found that multiple approvals were given without meeting necessary standards. This has led to speculation about possible misconduct and the integrity of benefit distribution within OPKEA, which could translate into a larger political scandal if further irregularities are confirmed.

Next steps following the investigation are crucial in addressing these violations to restore public trust in the OPKEA system. It will be essential for the government to implement measures that ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation of social benefits. The public and stakeholders are keenly observing how the government reacts to these findings and whether this incident will lead to substantial reforms within the agency or result in negligence being tolerated in future operations.