Greece

The Syriza opposition party has accused the government of mismanagement of the wildfire and experts say that weaknesses in emergency planning, insufficient coordination between different authorities and the underfunding of the national forestry service have prevented an effective crisis response. Although the government has initiated policy changes, it has shifted the blame to arsonists, arresting 79 people for suspected arson this summer and announcing future tougher penalties for the crime. This has inflamed social divisions, with claims circulating that migrants are committing arson and far-right militias forming to ‘catch’ them. Three vigilantes have been arrested for forcing 13 migrants into a trailer as they blamed them for setting the fires. This prompted the Supreme Court Prosecutor to order an investigation into claims of racism against migrants. Greece saw the largest wildfire recorded in the EU since the bloc started collecting data in 2000. The wildfire has scorched over 80,000 hectares and claimed at least 20 lives, 18 of whom are thought to be migrants.

Refugees Natural Disaster Prosecutor's Office Environmental Protection Asylum seekers Racism

On 25 July, MPs enacted a law making it easier for Greek citizens abroad to vote in elections, with just over two thirds of legislators voting in favour. The law applies to all nationals living abroad. It abolishes restrictions that prevented many in the Greek diaspora from voting, for instance, removing requirements for a length of stay in Greece necessary to vote. Although Greek nationals were able to vote from abroad in May 2023 and June 2023, voter registration among them remained low. Supporters of the law hope that more Greeks abroad go to the polls and praise the move as beneficial for the equal treatment of voters and therefore democracy. Critics point out that, due to the law of blood which allows anyone with Greek ancestors to claim citizenship and register to vote, the electorate outside of Greece may balloon.

Elections Citizenship Enfranchisement

On 14 June, a fishing boat that had departed from Libya and was carrying between 400 and 750 Egyptian, Syrian, Pakistani, Afghan, and Palestinian migrants capsized off the coast of Greece, near the town of Pylos. Greek authorities said this is one of the largest migrant tragedies on the central Mediterranean route and confirmed rescuing 104 people and recovering 82 bodies as of 28 June. According to a Pakistani investigative agency, at least 209 Pakistanis are among those who lost their lives with one town losing an entire generation of its young men. The tragedy has triggered inquiries about the actions, or lack thereof, of the Greek coastguard, as some survivors said it was a coastguard rope that capsized the boat. Greek officials contend that the boat sank due to an engine failure and movement by the migrants, while their offers for help were allegedly rejected by the migrants who had said the boat will sail on to Italy. The obligation to rescue those in distress at sea without delay is a fundamental rule of international maritime law. The European Commission has urged for ‘thorough and transparent investigation.’

Migration Refugees EU

Greek Parliament approved an extension to the February legislation to ban the extreme-right National Party - Greeks from running in the May elections. The ban was voted in by nine out of ten Supreme Court judges. The court said that the law’s provisions are in line with the constitution. The ruling implies that no extreme right parties will be in the parliament, excluding 13 other parties as well. The National Party - Greeks is a successor party to the Golden Dawn, a far-right neo-Nazi political party and ultranationalist criminal organization, which was declared a criminal organization in 2020 for charges including murder, racist violence, and money laundering. The National Party-Greeks was founded by former lawmaker Ilias Kasidiaris, who is currently serving a prison sentence over his leading role in Golden Dawn. It is the first time that MPs in Greece asked the Supreme Court to weigh the credentials of a party to compete in elections.

Political Party Supreme Court Elections