The head of Greece’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority has ordered the freezing of assets belonging to the President of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE), Yiannis Panagopoulos. The freeze also extends to six other individuals and six companies.
The order by former Supreme Court prosecutor Charalambos Vourliotis includes the seizure of bank accounts, safety deposit boxes, and shares, as well as the freezing of two real estate properties.
According to the investigation, Panagopoulos and the other implicated parties are allegedly involved in the misappropriation of state and European Union funds exceeding €73 million ($86 million). These funds were reportedly intended for seven educational and vocational training programs.
Judge Vourliotis has forwarded his findings to the competent prosecutor, citing evidence of two major felonies: embezzlement and money laundering (legalization of proceeds from illegal activities). The investigation focused on the management of national and EU funds by the accused individuals and companies during the provision of vocational training services.
Panagopoulos denies allegations
Yiannis Panagopoulos, has issued a defiant response to the allegations, stating that he is “at the disposal of the justice system.” He emphasized that he has “nothing to hide” and “nothing to fear,” adding that the restoration of the truth is only a “matter of time.”
Panagopoulos pointed out that he has not yet been served with any formal prosecutor’s report and is therefore unaware of the specific charges or the evidence supporting them. He further underlined that this is not the first time he has been “targeted by slanderers,” nor the first time he has had to defend himself against “baseless and unsubstantiated accusations.”
The union leader characterized the investigation as a “heavy blow to trade unions and their activities,” suggesting that certain interests are “bothered” by the labor movement’s work.
GSEE’s role and its influence
Founded in 1918, GSEE is the country’s highest-level trade union body, representing nearly half a million workers. It is not a union that individuals join directly. Instead, it is an umbrella organization made up of 83 industry-specific federations (like bank employees or construction workers) and 74 regional “Labor Centers” across Greece.
If you see news about a “nationwide general strike” shutting down Greek transport, ferries, or businesses, it is almost always called by GSEE (often in tandem with ADEDY, the public sector equivalent.)
Unlike unions in some other countries, GSEE is highly politicized. Its leadership is elected based on party-affiliated “factions” (groups linked to the Socialists, Conservatives, or Communists). This makes the President of GSEE a very powerful political figure in Greece, often acting as a key negotiator—or opponent—to the government of the day.
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