Spyros Koulkoudinas defends 200,000 euro subsidy for yacht business

New Democracy MP Spyros Koulkoudinas has responded to allegations that he improperly received a 200,000 euro subsidy intended for coastal fisheries. The funds, part of the LEADER program, were reportedly used for a business involving the rental of tourist vessels in Pieria.

Koulkoudinas stated that the business activity has been part of his professional profile since 2019, prior to his election as a Member of Parliament. He clarified that the subsidy application was submitted and approved before he took office and emphasized that the specific business activity is explicitly permitted under the program's guidelines. He further noted that the 200,000 euros does not represent the total investment, as he provided additional funding through bank loans.

The MP characterized the reports as a distortion of the truth and announced his intention to seek legal recourse. Meanwhile, political opponents have called for investigations into the use of community funds, while the Ministry of Rural Development stated it is cooperating with auditing authorities to investigate any potential irregularities.