The president of the largest union umbrella group in Greece is facing a felony charge after a new investigation carried out by an anti-laundering watchdog reportedly found evidence that he failed to include more than three million euros in his obligatory annual asset declarations to the tax bureau (AADE).
Giannis Panagopoulos has headed up the specific labour group, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), since 2006. GSEE is the umbrella labor organization under which all private sector unions and employee associations fall under. Moreover, Panagopoulos is a prominent member of the main opposition PASOK party, with the latter’s affiliated labor union arm, PASKE, once dominating union leaderships in the country almost across-the-board.
News of the investigation and the possibly filing of charges against Panagopoulos for money laundering as well as alleged misuse of EU and national funds by GSEE-affiliated entities he also headed has been an embarrassment for PASOK’s leadership and have fueled calls for his reignition. He allegedly failed to declare 3.2 million euros in income over the past five-year period.
Although Panagopoulos was not formally required to submit “means and assets” declarations, he was obliged to submit such declarations as the president of GSEE-affiliated foundations and organizations, through which the disputed funds are alleged to have been disbursed.
An ongoing investigation and case files by the independent authority has been forwarded to a relevant prosecutor due to the amounts of money involved and because failure to declare or submitting inaccurate declarations constitutes a felony.
Another probe has focused on how GSEE-affiliated entities tendered EU and nationally funded vocational and adult education programs.
Reax
“Once again, the one who brutally violated all the principles and rules of the rule of law through leaks—before those being audited, like myself, had even received the audit report—has struck again with new leaks,” Panagopoulos said, in reaction to the news reports.
