Greece: MPs debate migration, poverty, and foreign policy

Greek political debate has intensified regarding migration and social issues. Members of Parliament Dimitris Kairidis of the conservative New Democracy party and Milena Apostolaki of the center-left PASOK party recently engaged in a discussion addressing several key national and international concerns.

On migration, the debate was fueled by recent events in Ceuta, Spain, which reminded many in Athens of the 2015 refugee crisis and the 2020 border tensions in Evros. Kairidis emphasized the necessity of citizen safety, while Apostolaki suggested that recent migration events have been used as propaganda to undermine political leadership.

Regarding domestic economics, Apostolaki cited Eurostat data indicating that Greece ranks second in Europe for poverty and social exclusion, following Bulgaria. Kairidis acknowledged that while the country has lagged due to a prolonged economic crisis, significant progress has been made since his party took power in 2019.

On foreign policy, both politicians agreed that Europe should engage in dialogue with Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. They also expressed the view that Greece has an obligation to execute International Criminal Court arrest warrants should Benjamin Netanyahu visit the country.