“Yesterday we witnessed an extreme, coordinated, murderous attack against three New Democracy officials in Thessaloniki… This terrorist act was a cowardly act by extremists who operate under the guise of a so-called ideology, targeting three people simply because they do not agree with their ideology,” said government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis during a briefing with political editors.
“We have absolute confidence in the authorities. We believe that the investigations will soon bear fruit and that both the physical and mastermind perpetrators will be identified and brought before the courts to be judged in the strictest and fairest manner. “The message we are sending is clear: Terrorism will not prevail! No one will be intimidated,” he noted.
He also pointed out that “just as important as it is to remove the hoods is the need to drop the masks. Let some people reflect on how much harm they have done by choosing, all these years, to label attacks on people’s homes, offices, and property—whatever form these attacks may take each time—as so-called ‘interventions.’ Those who label the occupation of spaces both inside and outside universities as “activism,” often rushing to offer an “umbrella” of political protection to criminals of every kind. Those who, when the occupied spaces were turned into libraries, were there with their sledgehammers. Let those who reduced the penalties for Molotov cocktails—on the grounds that, as has been chillingly stated, they are dangerous depending on which side one is on—reflect on the consequences of their actions, while they oppose any move to tighten the Penal Code.”
As it appears, Mr. Marinakis noted, “this pressure was a retaliatory measure because a government finally—after decades of delay—set out to remove all these criminals, the extremist elements of the far left, from the universities and throw them out. But that is not enough. Every instigator of these acts must go to prison. The police must apprehend them. We must not underestimate the attacks with Molotov cocktails; these thugs come on motorcycles, acting however they please… All of them are out for blood, for retaliation. The hooded ones must be exposed, and the guilty must be arrested. Wherever they are, we must find them. How many times do left-wing parties defend murderers?”
Mr. Marinakis also referred to the 2008 murder of Grigoropoulos and the events that followed.
“It was a terrible night, not only for the country but also for New Democracy. We, too, bear responsibility, but there is no longer any room or time for such behavior. I am not referring to the former prime minister, but to those who had the operational responsibility to uphold the law. The state must find a way to protect us from criminals; it cannot stand by apathetically. It must bring all of them to justice. The political parties’ statements are obviously well-intentioned, but we will not forget the many times the left was afraid to condemn criminals and instead blamed the police. Let them consider how much harm has been done over the years by justifying these actions.”
Extraordinary Circumstances
When asked about the profit margin cap, the government spokesperson emphasized that it is “a measure applied in exceptional circumstances; a free market economy cannot function indefinitely with a cap; it is on hold, ready to be activated if necessary.”
When asked to comment on the statements by New Democracy MPs Stelios Petsas and Zoë Rapti—who argued that the party’s Secretary of Strategic Planning, Vasilis Feugas, following his remarks on the same-sex marriage bill and Antonis Samaras, said:
“These are not unreasonable positions; I will not dwell on the substance as much as on Mr. Feugas’s manner. New Democracy is a major political party where all views are heard within its governing bodies, in the context of dialogue. This intervention is not considered serious, and we are moving forward.”
Regarding the refugee camps, he emphasized: “Evicting those who are illegally occupying a space does not depend on any funding. We will not listen to anyone who demands something illegal.”
At the same time, he distanced himself from the statement by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, N. Tachiaos, that Thrace is not a border region: “He subsequently offered explanations to clarify the statement. Especially when we hold a public office, we must be very careful with every word we say, particularly when we’re talking about Thrace and our border residents. These people understand certain things much more deeply than others.”
When asked about reports concerning Maria Karystianou, who is alleged to have purchased—through a company—a property from a fund, he noted:
“I am not in a position to assess this specific case, but I do not believe we will ever again see a politician who makes grand statements about something he wants to apply to everyone except himself.”
Regarding yesterday’s dinner between Antonis Samaras and three sitting New Democracy MPs, and the possibility of their joining the former prime minister’s potential new party, Mr. Marinakis said: “We’re not concerned, and these things don’t happen over a single meal.”