Introduction
Seven parties gain seats in Greek European Parliament elections
Seven parties gained seats in the European Parliament elections held on 9th June 2024. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' New Democracy party led with 28.31 percent of the vote, garnering seven seats. The main leftist opposition party, SYRIZA, followed with 14.92 percent, gaining four seats. The socialist PASOK party secured three seats with 12.79 percent of the vote. The nationalist Greek Solution party garnered 9.3 percent of the vote and earned two seats, narrowly surpassing the communist KKE, which received 9.25 percent and also secured two seats. Additionally, the religious nationalist Niky (Victory) party, Course for Freedom, and the Voice of Reason each won one seat, with 4.37, 3.4, and 3.04 percent of the vote, respectively.
Voter privacy scandal shocks Greece
In May 2024, a privacy scandal surrounding voter data shook Greece after the records of voters living outside of the country were leaked to a New Democracy politician. Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, a member of the European Parliament for New Democracy, sent an email to Greeks living abroad on 1st March 2024 to promote her reelection bid - the same day when the Interior Ministry informed voters living abroad that they could cast their ballot by post. Many of the recipients claimed they had never interacted with the politician before and Asimakopoulou was unable to explain how she got the data. She subsequently stepped down from running in the New Democracy campaign. An investigation revealed that she had used a voter data file to send out the campaign emails. The data, forwarded to Asimakopoulou by a New Democracy official, had been obtained from an unknown source. At the end of May 2024, Greece’s Data Protection Authority imposed a 400,000 EUR fine on the Interior Ministry and a 40,000 EUR fine on Asimakopoulou for violating the privacy of voters. However, investigations into New Democracy’s role in the scandal are still ongoing, which could lead to further fines.
Police detain former suspects in the Adriana vessel shipwreck
On 23rd May 2024, Greek police announced that they detained nine Egyptian men, despite a court order dismissing charges against them for their alleged role in a deadly shipwreck in 2023. The Kalamata tribunal ruled that it lacked jurisdiction, as the disaster occurred in international waters, and also dismissed the charges of illegal entry and human smuggling.
The shipwreck, which occurred off southwestern Greece in June 2023, involved a fishing trawler carrying an estimated 750 people from Pakistan, Syria, and Egypt. Only 104 survivors were rescued, and 82 bodies were recovered. Following the court's decision, police justified the continued detention of the nine Egyptians, citing a risk of them fleeing the country. The men had been held in pre-trial detention for 11 months. Their lawyer criticised the police’s conduct as "inhumane," and plans to appeal the detention order.
Head of extreme far-right party sees early release from prison
On 3rd June 2024, Athens News Agency reported that Nikos Michaloliakos, head of the Greek extreme far-right Golden Dawn party, was ordered back to prison to serve the remainder of his 13-year sentence. The appeals court had overturned his early release, citing his "unrepentant" attitude, continued praise for the Nazi-style practices of Golden Dawn, and suspicion of committing new crimes. Michaloliakos had been granted a conditional early release on 1st May 2024 after serving part of his sentence for running a criminal organisation responsible for violent hate crimes.
Revival of tensions with North Macedonia
On 12th May 2024, Gordana Silinovska-Davkova was sworn in as the first female president of North Macedonia, Greece’s northern neighbor. During her inaugural speech, Silinovska-Davkova referred to the country as “Macedonia” and not by its constitutional name “North Macedonia”. Greek Ambassador Sophia Philippidou, who attended the inaguaration, left in protest. Greece’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement that the actions of North Macedonia’s new president were in violation of the Prespa Agreement between the two nations.
Greece and North Macedonia have a decades-long dispute over the use of the name “Macedonia”, with Greece accusing the neighbouring country of appropriating a Greek name and the history of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia. Originally, the dispute was resolved in 2018, when both sides signed the Prespa Agreement and the constitutional name “North Macedonia” was adopted. With this name change, the Greek government agreed not to veto North Macedonia joining NATO and possibly the EU.
In recent months, however, this dispute has resurfaced. While Kyrakos Mitsotakis, the head of the Greek government, called the inaugural speech an “illegal and unacceptable act”, many fear that the North Macedonian prime minister and leader of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party will undo the Prespa Agreement. During their campaign, the prime minister and the new president had repeatedly stated that they intended to call their country “Macedonia”.
Fraud-busters examine distribution of Greece’s EU recovery funds
On 10th April 2024, Politico published an article confirming that authorities are investigating allegations of fraud tied to the 2.5 billion EUR in EU funds that had been awarded to ten companies in Greece. Already in March, investigators from the Greek competition commission raided the offices of the country’s three telecommunications firms as well as five IT companies and two consultancy firms. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched its own investigation as well. At the center of the investigations are public tenders where companies allegedly colluded to avoid more than one of them competing for the same contract.
Freedom of Expression
Journalists attacked while reporting on oxygen welding
On 14th May 2024, Alpha TV journalist Rena Kouvelioti was seriously injured while reporting on oxygen welding. Kouvelioti was reporting at a construction site in Lagonisi, Attica where welding was done next to dry grass. She was investigating claims that oxygen welding was being done in a public area, in the middle of nature, which increases the risk of fire. The attack occurred when she was asking about the authorisation for the work being done on site. Following the attack, she filed a lawsuit and the police arrested the assailant.
Improvement in Greece’s press freedom ranking not as good as it seems
In early May 2024, Reporters Without Borders released its annual World Press Freedom Index. The new Index showed an improvement in the press freedom ranking for Greece, with the country rising 19 places, compared to the previous year. However, according to Pavol Szailai, head of Reporters Without Borders for the EU and Balkans Desk, the new, higher ranking for Greece is indicative of other countries' deteriorating and worsening press freedom situations. Greece remains the lowest ranked among the European Union countries.
According to the Berlin-based Civil Liberties Union for Europe’s (Liberties) annual media freedom report, compiled with 37 rights groups in 19 countries, Greek journalists faced physical attacks, surveillance, and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) in 2023. The use of spyware, such as Pegasus and Predator, to monitor journalists was also noted in the report.
Media Freedom Rapid Response calls for justice
On 9th April 2024, three years after the assassination of Greek crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition published an open letter urging the Greek authorities to intensify their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. Karaivaz, a renowned investigative journalist focusing on organised crime and police corruption, was shot dead outside his home in Athens on 9th April 2021. Despite the arrest of two suspects in April 2023, there has been little progress in the investigation, raising concerns over potential obstruction of justice from the police. The MFRR highlighted the lack of transparency in the investigation and Greece's broader issues with press freedom, including the use of spyware against journalists and other intimidation tactics. The coalition called for the Greek government to allocate more resources to the investigation, seek international assistance, and ensure independent reviews of unsolved cases.
Greek government plans quota for local music in public spaces
According to media reports from March 2024, the Greek government is considering legislation that would require over 45 percent of music played in public spaces, including hotel lobbies, shopping malls and airports, to be in Greek. This proposal, championed by Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni, aimed to promote and protect Greek-language music, which currently comprises only 30 percent of what is heard in public spaces. Mendoni argued that in a globalised world, Greek music needs to be safeguarded. To incentivise compliance, radio stations adhering to the quota would be allowed more commercial airtime. The quota for state-funded films and audiovisual content would be even higher at 70 percent.
The proposed law faced mixed reactions. Greek musicians welcomed it as a boost for the industry, while hotel owners and private radio stations decried it as impractical and restrictive. Critics, including the opposition Syriza party, viewed it as a draconian measure. Despite the backlash, Mendoni maintained that the law was essential for the survival of Greek music and claimed that public feedback would be considered before the final vote.
Freedom of Assembly
Student protests over private universities continue
On 8th March 2024, thousands attended a demonstration against the government plans to allow foreign, private universities to operate in Greece, making degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. While the protest in front of Greece’s parliament was largely peaceful, some demonstrators hurled gasoline bombs and firecrackers at the police outside of the parliament building. The police reacted by charging the violent protesters and firing tear gas to disperse the crowds. The rally came after weeks of demonstrations, during which students occupied a number of university buildings. On 9th March 2024, Greek lawmakers ultimately approved the reform.
Unions call for return of bargaining rights and higher wages
On 17th April 2024, strikes caused disruptions in the operation of ferries, public transport services, national rail services and also left some state-run hospitals on emergency staffing levels in Athens and elsewhere. The strikes were led by the General Confederation of Greek Labour with the aim to press for a return of collective bargaining rights. Many labour rights in Greece were removed as a temporary measure during the 2010 to 2018 recession and international bailout-era and thus far they have not yet been restored. Marches were held in Athens and Thessaloniki.
In addition, striking workers, students, and pensioners took to the streets and marched through central Athens protesting wages which are not high enough to cope with the rising cost of living. While the minimum gross wage was raised in April2024 by 6.4 percent, many argue this is still not enough to keep up with high food and rental costs.
Clashes and deportation threats over pro-Palestinian protests
As in previous months, pro-Palastenian protests continued in Greece. During one demonstration on 7th May 2024, clashes broke out between police and protesters in central Athens. More than 300 people carrying Palestinian flags and banners rallied outside the parliamentary building in the country's capital. Police fired tear gas to disperse the small groups of protesters who climbed up the gate of the Egyptian embassy located opposite the parliament.
Following participation in protests at the University of Athens School of Law on 14th May 2024, nine people from the United Kingdom and member states of the European Union face deportation from the country. They had been designated as “unwanted aliens” and deemed a threat to public order and national security. Lawyers representing the protesters say they will challenge the decision. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said authorities would not allow universities to become sites for protests over Israel’s war on Gaza.
Mob in Thessaloniki attacks transgender people
On 9th March 2024, a mob of reportedly between 150 to 200 people wearing black allegedly chased two 21-year-old trans persons in Thessaloniki, shouting homophobic slurs and throwing bottles. The victims were forced to seek refuge in a local restaurant while waiting for the police to arrive. Local reports suggest that police detained 25 individuals at the scene.
A day later, on 10th March 2024, thousands gathered at the location of the attack then marched through the streets denouncing homophobia, transphobia, and racism. There were reports of several clashes between protesters and the police, with riot police using tear gas and stun grenades to break up the rally. Greece’s Supreme Court ordered the Thessaloniki First Instance Prosecutor’s Office to investigate.
Freedom of Association
Lesbos court drops criminal charges against aid workers
In late April 2024, a court on the island of Lesbos dropped criminal charges of espionage and aiding illegal migrant entry which had been levied against 35 international aid workers, mainly German nationals. The decision came after a judicial council ruled that there was insufficient evidence to support the accusations. The aid workers, arrested in September 2020, were accused of using encrypted messaging apps to assist smugglers in evading Greek coast guard patrols. The defendants denied these allegations. The court's decision has been hailed as a victory for humanitarian efforts amidst increasing scrutiny and criminalisation of aid workers.