Othōnas Iakovidis resigns from Greece's 'Hope for Democracy' over real‑estate scandal

Othōnas Iakovidis, a former anti‑foreclosure activist from Thessaloniki, announced his departure from the political movement “Hope for Democracy” (Ελπίδα για τη Δημοκρατία). He said the recent revelations that party leader Maria Karystianou bought an apartment through a foreclosure auction contradicted his long‑standing principles and made his continued participation impossible. Iakovidis recalled his past actions, stating, “I ran the courts and the corridors of the courts of Thessaloniki to prevent foreclosures and save the homes of vulnerable people. I fought body‑to‑body with the police, and then I learned that Ms Karystianou purchased a flat from a foreclosure. This makes it impossible for me to stay in the party.” He added that the explanations offered so far were unsatisfactory and that a public apology should have been issued. The split reflects internal disagreements within the nascent party, which was founded on a participatory, anti‑establishment platform aimed at defending economically vulnerable citizens.

Iakovidis’s resignation joins a series of recent departures from the party, underscoring tensions between the leadership’s actions and the movement’s original anti‑foreclosure mission.