Fiasco at ELGA: Instead of giving money to farmers, they took it from them

While the government is trying to “sweeten” farmers through the budget, whose decisions on whether to continue their protests are expected in the coming hours, another failure adds to the already problematic management of the entire issue.

Although on December 16th (16/12) the main subsidy (208 million euros for 482,853 beneficiaries) and the redistributive subsidy (142.9 million euros for 285,214 beneficiaries) were supposed to be paid – as government officials had claimed – thousands of beneficiaries saw zero balances in their accounts, while ELGA made premature deductions of insurance contributions before the subsidies were even paid.

Government admission

The Ministry of Rural Development, in a statement on Wednesday morning (17/12), admitted the fiasco and referred to a technical problem.

“Last night, due to a technical issue on their side in the payment system, the beneficiaries had the remaining insurance contribution withheld by ELGA before the above amounts were credited,” the announcement stated, while it was claimed that the problem would be resolved today.

The statement also subtly criticized the technical advisor of OPEKEPE, as it was claimed that the subsidies would be paid as usual “as assured to us by the Technical Advisor of OPEKEPE and the Banks.”

The full announcement:

“The payment of the Basic Subsidy and the amounts of the Redistributive Subsidy will be credited to the accounts of all beneficiary farmers by noon, as assured to us by the Technical Advisor of OPEKEPE and the Banks.

Last night, due to a technical issue on their side in the payment system, the beneficiaries had the remaining insurance contribution withheld by ELGA before the above amounts were credited.

This issue will be settled this morning.”

Speaking on ERTnews Radio 105.8, Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Christos Kellas, after admitting the fiasco on his part, stated among other things:

“The farmers are right. I, without any responsibility from the Ministry’s side, apologize. It is an issue that falls on the technical advisor and OPEKEPE, but the redistributive subsidy was already paid this morning, and soon the payment of the basic subsidy will follow. The farmers are right. There has been confusion since last night, but I am telling you exactly what happened. The Ministry is not responsible, but I apologize on behalf of our Ministry. By mistake, the insurance contribution deduction was sent first before the basic subsidy was paid. The distribution of the redistributive subsidy should have already been completed, and the payment of the basic subsidy follows. Responsibilities will be sought, but the damage has been done.”

 

Fierce reactions from farmers

Already, the first reactions from farmers are furious, with the representative of the farmers’ block in Larissa, Socrates Aleftiris, demanding explanations.

Speaking on OPEN, he condemned that “last night, with surprise, we saw the government score another own goal, and we are completely moving away from dialogue,” explaining that instead of seeing money in their accounts, farmers found their balances negative.

He described it as “shameful and disgraceful.” “Can you imagine having 1,000 euros in your account to go to the hospital in the morning, and having it taken away at night?” he wondered.