The strict line of the Mitsotakis government on immigration signals the broader shift of the Prime Minister’s office toward patriotic audiences. This political move began gradually with Alexis Patelis’ resignation, continued with Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ condemnation of “woke” ideology, followed by the appointment of Makis Voridis and subsequently Thanasis Plevris to the Ministry of Migration.
The strategic shift of the Mitsotakis government
The Prime Minister’s recent visit to Mount Athos and his warm meeting with Abbot Ephraim at Vatopedi complete this strategic shift, according to the newspaper “Apogeumatini.” In this admittedly challenging conjuncture, as the OPEKEPE scandal is expected to remain in the political spotlight for a long time, the government appears to be listening to the major reactions recorded in society.
These reactions are caused by the massive influx of illegal immigrants, mainly in Crete, and the government is trying to become the voice of the social majority. At the same time, it exploits the internal contradictions and new confusion in PASOK as well as the socially resonant outbursts of rights activism from SYRIZA, New Left, and Course of Freedom.
Political processes and Samaras’ reappearance
All this is happening in the shadow of intense processes recorded generally in the existing political system and the rumored reappearance of Antonis Samaras in the foreground. The government so far and Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself have shown that they possess the necessary reflexes and political education to communicate with the times and major social segments.
Plevris’ statements on immigration
Migration Minister Thanos Plevris characterized the regulation to be voted on as absolutely measured, informing that the Commission also knows this. As for the discussion about unconstitutionality, he mentioned that “we are proceeding with an obviously milder measure, we don’t need to activate article 15 of the ECHR, however the conditions are met.”
“Yesterday out of 507 people who came, only 16 were women. End the fairy tale about desperate mothers. We have the presence of people aged 18-30, mainly from Egypt. And we have borders and we have territory and we will protect it,” emphasized Mr. Plevris.
Party reactions to the new immigration policy
The reactions of opposition parties were intense:
- SYRIZA’s parliamentary spokesperson Giorgos Psychogios spoke of illegal practices that expose the country and accused Thanos Plevris of “institutional racism”
- Diamanto Manolakou of KKE denounced the “savage, inhumane and racist amendment” that violates the International Geneva Convention
- Konstantinos Chitas of Greek Solution stated: “It’s half a step, but we’ll take it. We will vote for the amendment”
- Peti Perka of New Left spoke of a “far-right” choice against International Law
For his part, New Democracy’s parliamentary spokesperson Makarios Lazaridis, countering claims about the amendment’s unconstitutionality, emphasized that “it is our sovereign right and constitutional obligation to protect the country.” “This is an asymmetric threat, we are facing a potential hybrid war. We will not live through another Moria and Idomeni. You humanitarians, us supposedly far-right. Aren’t you ashamed!” he concluded.
