Greece’s new Minister for Migration and Asylum Thanos Plevris has signaled a further shift to the right in the country’s migration policy, pledging stricter measures that are aimed at curbing illegal immigration.
During a handover ceremony that took place at the Hellenic Ministry of Migration and Asylum on 30 June, Plevris announced that “whoever comes here and isn’t eligible for aassylum, their options are either to return to their country of origin, or go to prison.”
“There must be procedures in place so that people can come here and work. But these [people] must be the ones we want and the ones we choose, and under no circumstances can we be hostages to traffickers,” he added.
Plevris stressed that Greece will uphold its immigration policy framework, describing it as strict, tough and fair. He also warned that the “hotel service” for illegal immigrants is “slowly coming to an end in Europe.”
The handover followed the resignation of former Migration Minister Makis Voridis, who stepped down after the European Prosecutor forwarded a case file to the Hellenic Parliament last week.
In the OPEKEPE scandal, the latest scandal upending Greek politics, Voridis is suspected of criminal acts allegedly committed during his tenure as Minister of Agriculture. The scandal has also led to the resignations of three deputy ministers and involves allegations of irregularities and misuse of European agricultural subsidies managed by OPEKEPE, the agency responsible for distributing EU agricultural funds in Greece.
During his statement at the handover ceremony, Voridis expressed his ideological alignment with Plevris, saying they shared “common values and more.” Both previously served as members of parliament for the far-right LAOS party, established by Giorgos Karatzaferis in the year 2000.
In his remarks, Voridis also referenced upcoming legislation amending Greece’s migration policy, which he said would include further, likely tougher measures on both legal and illegal immigration. According to Voridis, the legislation will soon be released for public consultation.
