Determined to follow an even tougher line than his predecessor Makis Voridis, Thanos Pleyris appeared in Parliament during parliamentary oversight proceedings. The Migration and Asylum Minister, responding to a topical question from Nasos Iliopoulos of the New Left, presented his entire plan which includes tightening asylum grants and intensifying deportations, as well as reviewing migrant benefits and auditing NGO funding.
Read: Tsiaras: “Wave of departures” from organic programs – “No one falls from the clouds about OPEKEPE”
Meanwhile, Mr. Pleyris informed Parliament that he has already requested the exact calculation of the cost for each migrant residing in facilities across Greece, as well as a review of benefits. “We must respect the money of Greek taxpayers, many of whom are below the poverty line and pay so that there can be hotel services for migrants,” he stated characteristically.
Thanos Pleyris: Putting an end to the “I do what I want” regime
Furthermore, the Migration and Asylum Minister announced the monitoring “cent by cent, minute by minute” of funds directed to NGOs, commenting that “their altruism is not humanitarian, we’re talking about a profession.” He also announced that 52% of asylum applications granted will be re-examined and rushed to inform that he has given orders for provisions to ensure stricter asylum grants.
“I have already informed the European Commissioner that we want a tougher deportation framework. Deportation flights must be increased,” he emphasized characteristically and announced that a ministerial decision will be signed immediately to control the verification of migrants’ minor status, as well as that the percentage of administrative detentions will be increased, commenting that “we’re putting an end to the ‘I do what I want’ regime.”
At the same time, referring to the bill that Makis Voridis had processed, he said that there will be no legalization mechanism from now on. “If the migrant is not entitled to asylum, they will leave. We will have the criminal offense of remaining which will be executed immediately. The country ceases to be a beacon. Anyone not entitled to asylum is not welcome – they will either return or go to prison. The Migration Ministry is not a hotel. We will protect the country from illegal immigrants,” he emphasized meaningfully.
For his part, Nasos Iliopoulos recalled previous statements made by Mr. Pleyris, asking him whether he supports the “logic of dead migrants and torture chambers.”
“Border guarding accepts losses too. When people come, in the effort of guarding, without meaning that you will make an aggressive move, there can also be loss. I declared it, but you put it into practice with Moria,” was the answer given by Thanos Pleyris.
