The Guardian | international
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It’s the big fat Greek farming scandal – devised by the political elite and paid for by ordinary people | Alexander Clapp
A major EU subsidy scandal has exposed corruption in Greece. Between 2016 and 2022, fraudulent claims for agricultural subsidies surged. Greek records show improbable increases in livestock populations, like a doubling of sheep on Crete. Banana plantations inexplicably appeared on Mount Olympus. Olive trees replaced high-security airport land. Even underwater pastures for livestock were falsely claimed. These fictitious claims represent a massive misuse of EU funds. The scandal involves substantial sums of money fraudulently obtained. The scale of the deception is significant and damaging to Greece's reputation. This highlights a broader issue of power dynamics and corruption within Greek politics.
