Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is giving a comprehensive interview on SKAI 100.3 radio with Aris Portosalte. This interview comes one day after the heated parliamentary debate regarding the amendment concerning the Unknown Soldier monument, which will be voted on today.
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Key points from Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ interview
Aris Portosalte began with a reference to Dionysis Savvopoulos, with the Prime Minister noting that he “united all Greeks.”
The discussion then turned to the “notable absence” of Nikos Dendias, which “clouded the government’s message” regarding the Unknown Soldier monument. Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the discussion about protecting a site of collective memory wouldn’t happen anywhere else, resulting in a regulation that establishes the obvious: that gatherings and demonstrations coexist with the protection of the sacred space that symbolizes the past, present, and future of the Greek nation. Kyriakos Mitsotakis noted that “the majority of Greek citizens” agree, while mentioning that there was communication with Nikos Dendias before the amendment, which he co-signed and will vote for today. “It is not customary for ministers to attend the discussion,” the Prime Minister emphasized, noting that 6 other ministers also co-signed.
“Perhaps we can think of some solution for the monument’s beginning and the square’s end, I will discuss the idea with the Minister,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis also noted. When it was pointed out that there are protests about Tempe and the Monument has been covered with certain symbols, he said the same right should exist for victims of Mati, Mandra, or terrorism victims. “Some from the Left have appropriated public spaces believing they are superior to the state. The same happened with occupations of public buildings,” he added, mentioning that some parents are being instrumentalized and fell victim to “activism.” Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated that the exhumation request was satisfied, while noting that there is no dispute with the parents. “We didn’t respond to the wooden sleeper conspiracy the way we should have, with the cover-up theory having collapsed,” the Prime Minister said, mentioning that there are 36 defendants in the trial, 2 ministers who requested to be tried, and there will be justice for the victims’ memory.
“Today there is no active occupation in any public university. It took us 51 years since the Transition to Democracy to achieve the obvious, but we managed it, with the consent of the silent majority of students and professors,” the Prime Minister said. When it was pointed out that the Rectors bear responsibility, Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized
