Greece’s Parliament approved a contentious amendment banning demonstrations in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in central Athens on Wednesday, October 22.
The measure passed by roll-call vote with 159 votes in favour and 134 against, following requests from SYRIZA and the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).
Under the new law, the Defence Ministry will take over maintenance of the monument, while the Citizen Protection Ministry will continue to oversee public order in the area.
The legislation prohibits gatherings, occupations, or any alterations to the site on Vasilissis Amalias Avenue.
The debate sparked sharp clashes between the government and opposition, which accused the administration of undermining the constitutional right to assembly.
Η ρύθμιση για το Μνημείο του Αγνώστου Στρατιώτη εμπεδώνει απλά την κανονικότητα και το προφανές: ότι το δικαίωμα στη συνάθροιση και τη διαμαρτυρία μπορεί να συνυπάρχει με την προστασία ενός χώρου ιερού. pic.twitter.com/1FRiKTfEGd
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) October 22, 2025
Opposition parties also criticised Defence Minister Nikos Dendias for not speaking during the debate, despite voting in favour.
Dendias had earlier stated that the monument “will not be treated as an object of political exploitation or social division,” a remark seen as an attempt to distance himself from the controversy.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis responded that the only reason a minister would not speak on a measure within his jurisdiction “would be if he was in a coma.”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis dismissed reports of a rift with Dendias, telling Skai radio, “The defence minister, with whom I personally communicated before submitting the provision, expressed no disagreement with its content. He co-signed it and will vote for it in today’s roll-call vote.”
Source: Ekathimerini.
