Greek PM appeals for restraint during uprising anniversary

·

Greece’s prime minister appealed to political parties Monday to show “self-restraint” in commemorations marking the 1973 crushing of a student uprising by the ruling military junta at the time, as part of measures to curtail a surging coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Nov. 17, the day the uprising was quashed, is marked each year with wreath-laying ceremonies at the Athens Polytechnic commemorating those who died there, followed by marches to the U.S. Embassy. The marches sometimes turn violent, with protesters clashing with riot police.

This year, the government has banned the marches due to a surge in coronavirus infections and deaths which are straining the country’s health system. The police chief over the weekend announced a nationwide ban on gatherings of more than three people from Nov. 15-18.

A police car passes outside the Athens Polytechnic in the Greek capital on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Left-wing opposition parties voiced outrage and said the ban was unconstitutional, but a late challenge at the country’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, was unsuccessful.

“At this critical time, the historic anniversary cannot become the reason for division and human lives the field of party experiments,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a statement Monday. “For that reason I call for self-restraint from all parties.”

Mitsotakis noted that gatherings during Greece’s two national holidays on March 25 and Oct. 28 were also canceled this year.

“There can be no freedom without responsibility,” he said.

“I honestly believe that the overwhelming majority of society is having trouble following the big debate occurring about this year’s celebration in pandemic conditions,” Mitsotakis said. “The decision to not have mass events and a march is being imposed purely for reasons of protecting public health.”

On Sunday, Greece recorded its largest coronavirus death toll in a single day: 71. The country of 11 million people now has more than 76,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,100 deaths, while its intensive care units are at 78% capacity. The country is under lockdown until Nov. 30.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Alumni excellence celebrated in style at Oakleigh Grammar

Oakleigh Grammar has inducted two more former students into the prestigious Alumni Hall of Fame.

A pilgrimage to heroic Souli: Remembering the legacy of the Souliotes and Souliotises

Nestled in the rugged mountains of Epirus, Souli is more than just a historical site—it is a symbol of resilience and bravery.

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea: Defining Orthodoxy and preserving Hellenism

The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, convened in 325 AD by Emperor Constantine the Great, stands as a pivotal event in Christian history.

From PAK to PASOK: Sakis Gekas to lecture on anti-dictatorship resistance in Toronto

The talk will feature some of the key moments of the anti-dictatorship struggle and its manifestations in the public sphere.

US urges EU to abandon protections for feta and other regional products

The United States is ramping up pressure on the European Union to eliminate its system of geographical indications.

You May Also Like

‘From Imbros Over the Sea’: Photographic exhibition and lecture by Jim Claven in Sydney

The Greek Festival of Sydney, with The Imvrians' Society of Melbourne, has announced "From Imbros Over the Sea" exhibition by Jim Claven.

Aristea Synesios appointed new Head of Primary at All Saints Grammar

Mrs Aristea Synesios has been appointed as the new Head of Primary at All Saints Grammar School in Belmore in Sydney's inner south west.

Australia’s Governor-General attends historic ceremony for Lemnos Remembrance Trail

Governor General of Australia David Hurley visited Lemnos island in Greece, where he attended memorial events for ANZAC soldiers of Gallipoli.