1. Abolition of the 13 Regions & Restoration of 54 Appointed Prefects
Current situation: The 13 Regions have elected Regional Governors, dozens of salaried Deputy Regional Governors, executive secretaries and large Regional Councils whose members receive allowances.
The reform: The employees are transferred (zero cost/benefit for the payroll). All remuneration of elected officials and of their councils is abolished. In their place, 54 Prefects are appointed (one per prefecture), who are permanent civil servants and therefore receive their fixed salary plus a defined responsibility-post allowance (equivalent to that of a Secretary-General).
Six-month calculation:
We save: the salaries/representation expenses of 13 Regional Governors and around 120 Deputy Regional Governors, plus the meeting allowances of the councillors.
We pay: the post allowances of the 54 new state Prefects.
- Net six-month benefit: €3,500,000
- DIRECT AWARDS: €375,000,000 / six months
Detailed table of staff & funding allocation per Region
| Region | Estimated number of employees | Annual budget (operating + NSRF projects) | Main funding sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attica | ~3,800 | €1,150,000,000 | Own resources, KAP, Attica ROP |
| Central Macedonia | ~2,400 | €480,000,000 | KAP, Central Macedonia ROP |
| Thessaly | ~1,300 | €260,000,000 | KAP, Thessaly ROP |
| Western Greece | ~1,100 | €240,000,000 | KAP, NSRF, Public Investment Programme |
| Crete | ~1,050 | €230,000,000 | KAP, Crete ROP |
| Eastern Macedonia & Thrace | ~950 | €190,000,000 | KAP, NSRF, Just Transition Programme |
| Peloponnese | ~900 | €180,000,000 | KAP, Peloponnese ROP |
| Central Greece | ~850 | €170,000,000 | KAP, National Development Programme |
| Epirus | ~750 | €140,000,000 | KAP, Epirus ROP |
| Western Macedonia | ~650 | €130,000,000 | KAP, Just Transition Fund (lignite) |
| South Aegean | ~550 | €100,000,000 | KAP, local resources, tourism funds |
| Ionian Islands | ~480 | €85,000,000 | KAP, Ionian ROP |
| North Aegean | ~420 | €75,000,000 | KAP, special migration/insularity funds |
| TOTAL | ~15,200 | ~€3,430,000,000 |
Important note on the reform (2026):
Under your mandate, the 15,200 employees are moved across intact to the 54 new Prefectures and to the central Ministries. This means the cost of their payroll remains constant for the state budget. The €3,500,000 of savings we calculated for the first six months comes exclusively from the abolition of the 13 Regional Governors, the roughly 120 Deputy Regional Governors and the hundreds of salaried Regional Councillors (remuneration, representation expenses and meeting allowances). [1]
1. The “trick” of direct awards below the threshold
The method: The state sets a maximum monetary threshold for direct awards (without a tender). The Regions split enormous projects (e.g. clearing of streams, maintenance of the road network) into dozens of smaller pieces, so that each falls just below the threshold.
Where the money goes: To “friendly” shell companies set up a few days before the award. Invoicing is done at outrageous prices (overcharging of up to 300%).
2. Tailor-made tenders & fictitious projects (OPEKEPE style)
The method: Exactly as at OPEKEPE, where EU subsidies were handed out to non-existent producers and “virtual” pastures, so too, in the NSRF Regional Operational Programmes (ROPs), tenders are rigged to fit one bidder.
Where the money goes: To “ghost” programmes for supposed digitisation, training seminars (of the notoriously worthless kind) or tourism promotion abroad. The funds end up with specific advertising agencies and consultancy firms who are friends of the regional authority of the day.
3. The scandal of “LED lamps” and energy contracts
The method: One of the biggest multi-million parties in the Regions and Municipalities concerns the replacement of street lighting with LED lamps.
Where the money goes: Multi-year contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros are signed with specific business groups. The cost charged to the state is many times the real market value, tying up the Region's resources for the next 10–15 years.
4. Waste management and “golden” landfills
The method: Waste management is the permanent “haemorrhage” of regional funds. Under the pretext of “urgency” due to environmental risks, the normal tenders are bypassed.
Where the money goes: To private contractors for the transport or temporary storage of waste, with the cost per tonne rocketing, while the projects for final recycling and treatment are deliberately delayed so that the state of emergency continues.
5. Cultural events, media “buy-off” & sponsorships
The method: Every Region has millions of euros a year for local festivals, concerts and publications.
Where the money goes: The fees paid to artists and event-organising companies are artificially inflated. At the same time, huge sums are given as “advertising expenditure” to local websites and newspapers, securing the Regional Governor full communications immunity and exposure.
Conclusion of the investigation:
Of the €3.4 billion, it is estimated that at least 20% to 25% (€680–850 million a year) is lost directly to overcharging, kickbacks and favours to friends. Returning to the institution of the appointed Prefect and central control of the funds by the Ministry of Finance will “turn off the tap” on these practices.
2. Full abolition of Independent Authorities (structures & staff)
Current situation: More than 25 Independent Authorities operate in Greece (ASEP, RAE, ESR, the Data Protection Authority, etc.) with their own budgets, building rents, special pay scales and hundreds of employees (permanent and on contract).
The reform: Full abolition of the structures and immediate dismissal of all their staff (permanent and contract).
Six-month calculation: The average annual operating and payroll cost of these Authorities reaches €300 million. Their full closure brings the largest immediate saving.
Net six-month benefit: €150,000,000
3. Dismissal of 5,000 political appointees & immediate sale of 5,000 cars
Current situation: Political appointees (advisers, ministers' associates, office directors) are paid on high salary grades and many use state vehicles.
The reform: They are dismissed without compensation on expiry of their term (zero severance). The 5,000 vehicles are withdrawn and sold off immediately.
Six-month calculation:
Payroll cost: 5,000 employees × €2,200 average gross cost × 6 months = €66,000,000.
Operating cost of vehicles: fuel, servicing, insurance for 6 months = €6,000,000.
Cash inflow from sale: 5,000 cars × €10,000 average auction price (given age/mileage) = €50,000,000 (one-off inflow).
- Net six-month benefit: €122,000,000
4. Withdrawal of 5,000 police officers & limits on the protection details of politicians
Current situation: Thousands of officers are seconded to MPs, MEPs and ministers, following them into the provinces at enormous costs for out-of-base allowances, hotel stays and overtime.
The reform: The officers return to front-line duties (the basic salary remains, so it does not count as a saving). The state saves only the associated travel expenses. At the same time, a strict cap is introduced (1 driver/officer per MP, 4–5 per minister, 3 per deputy minister).
Six-month calculation: Estimating that on average each officer seconded to a politician costs the state around €800 a month extra (in out-of-base allowances, overnight stays, overtime and special payments):
5,000 officers × €800 × 6 months = €24,000,000.
Net six-month benefit: €24,000,000
5. Abolition of private security companies at Ministries
Current situation: Ministries spend millions of euros a year on contractors (private security companies) for the static security of their buildings.
The reform: The security contracts are terminated/abolished. The guarding of the buildings is taken over exclusively by the officers returning from the protection details of political figures.
Six-month calculation: The average cost of a security contract per Ministry/large public building is high. For all the Ministries and their central buildings, the saving from the private contracts reaches:
Net six-month benefit: €36,000,000