The prime minister made decisions that "sent a message" throughout the political system in demanding the resignations of members of cabinet implicated in the OPEKEPE corruption investigation, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis asserted in an interview with MEGA television station on Saturday. At the same time, he noted that the resignation of the former migration and asylum minister Makis Voridis "is a different case".
"After the prime minister's return from a very crucial [EU] Summit, some initial decisions were taken on a political level - because I want to separate the political from penal discussion - which I think send a message from the prime minister. And then the subsequent resignations of the deputy ministers - because the resignation of Mr. Voridis is a different case - send a message to the interior of both the party and the government but also, I think, the political system as a whole," Marinakis said.
There was no point in trying to hide the obvious, he added, regarding "the dialogues we read, some of which are deeply problematic politically and at times remind us of things described to us when we were younger....which many have tried to pretend they could not see all these years - both parties and governments." Marinakis stressed that he did not exempt any party from among those behaving this way, while adding: 
"In 2025 and after the [level of] abstention in the elections and the way young people have turned their backs, the prime minister, first and foremost, and the government as a whole, have all understood that all this cannot be tolerated. Such behaviour is not compatible with the position of minister or deputy minister and I think that is a guide - the assessment of personal behaviour - for all of us who have chosen to represent the citizens in anything."
Regarding Voridis' resignation, Marinakis said this was "for the reasons he explains himself" given that he is under investigation and the opposition has announced its intention to ask for a preliminary parliamentary inquiry, though he denies the charges.
Marinakis was also careful to clarify that any attribution of criminal liability must be based on a careful consideration of the facts and the evidence, before a decision was taken to refer anyone to the courts.
The spokesperson confirmed that the ministers had been asked to hand in their resignations, pointing out that the decision was taken just hours after Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis returned from the European Council. He also pointed out that the corrupt scandal was uncovered by the European Public Prosecutor's Office in collaboration with Greek authorities, under the Mitsotakis government, and also that it was not the first case of public-sector corruption uncovered this way under the present government.
He concluded by promising that the state will use every legal means available to recover the money that was wrongly handed out.
Marinakis reiterated that the next elections will take place in 2027, once the government has had a chance to complete its four-year programme, and made the following statement about the prime minister's relationship with Voridis: 
“ I believe that Mr. Voridis is someone who has served in all positions with great effectiveness - and especially during the time we worked together at the Maximos Mansion [Prime Minister’s Office], he was a person who, with his legal knowledge and competence, always tried to offer solutions to issues. Politically, it was deemed that since he is under investigation in a case - without this implying criminal liability, which will be determined in due course - he could not remain in that position... This does not negate a person’s contributions in any way, and there is no witch hunt. I repeat that. But there is a different standard now. There are older citizens watching us - and younger ones - who are tired of problems being swept under the rug.”