A particularly strange and suspicious case smelling of scandal is that of overbilling for communication projects in Brussels, which is under the microscope of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), provoking new questions about the way European People's Party (EPP) funds were managed. At the center are contracts of a total value of approximately 780,000 euros awarded to two companies with the common denominator being the close ties of their representatives with New Democracy and the environment of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The interest of the case is not limited only to the amount of money or the services allegedly provided. It primarily concerns the individuals who benefited from these specific assignments, as they are two people who have developed close personal and professional relationships with the prime minister.
The two companies and relationships with the prime minister
The first case concerns Gerasimos (Jerry) Zagoritis, owner of the Belgian company Campaign Lab. He has worked for a number of years as an associate of New Democracy MEPs and maintains close ties with the party mechanism. In fact, according to known information, his name is also connected with the design of the next political period, as he is reportedly intended for New Democracy's ballot in Ioannina. The second case concerns Eric Thanopoulos Parks, representative of the Cypriot company HD Heavyweight. He is a person who has served as a close associate in the communication and digital media sector, having also been active in the environment of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. His professional path in New Democracy renders the examination of these specific contracts even more interesting.
The amounts and questions over overbilling
According to journalistic investigation by Follow the Money, Inside Story, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, the two companies initially collected approximately 570,000 euros, while the total contract amount reportedly approached 780,000 euros. Five former EPP employees estimated that the actual cost of the services could be much lower, even close to 60,000 euros. Particular impression is also caused by the fact that the European Parliament recognized for reimbursement only 115,000 euros, leaving the remainder of the cost to the EPP treasury. Subsequently, the two companies returned part of the money, citing a commercial gesture of goodwill.
European People's Party also exposed
The case now exposes the EPP itself, as the contracts were signed during the secretary-generalship of Thanasis Bakolas. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case, while the relevant investigation has been assigned to the competent anti-corruption service of the Belgian police. So far no official charges have been brought against those involved. However, questions remain: How were these specific companies selected? How were the amounts justified? And above all, who checked whether the billed services corresponded to their real value?
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