Venezuela Crisis Ignites Political Firestorm in Athens: PM’s Statement Under Fire
The dramatic developments in Venezuela have triggered a significant political clash within Greece, centered around Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s public stance. His statement has provoked strong reactions from the opposition parties PASOK and SYRIZA, leading to a heated exchange of announcements with the government spokesperson and even an intervention by former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The core of the debate revolves around international legality and Greece’s role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s Controversial Statement
In his statement, Prime Minister Mitsotakis characterized Nicolás Maduro as the leader of “a brutal and oppressive dictatorship” that inflicted “unimaginable suffering on the people of Venezuela.” He added that “the end of his regime offers new hope for the country.” Crucially, he noted that “this is not the time to comment on the legality of recent actions.”
Mitsotakis emphasized that the priority is to ensure a peaceful and swift transition to a new, inclusive government with full democratic legitimacy. He affirmed that Greece would act in coordination with its partners in the European Union and the UN Security Council. Special mention was also made of the need to protect Greek citizens residing in Venezuela.
PASOK: “Silence on the Military Operation”
Dimitris Mantzos, the head of PASOK-KINAL’s Foreign Affairs sector, launched a scathing critique of the Prime Minister, calling his statement belated and reluctant. Mantzos argued that Mitsotakis “had nothing to say about the U.S. military operation in Venezuela.”
PASOK accused the Prime Minister of aligning with “the law of the jungle” and abandoning international legality, labeling the phrase “this is not the time to comment on the legality of recent actions” as “deeply problematic and shameful.” The party highlighted Greece’s position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, asserting that this entails increased responsibility. PASOK posed rhetorical questions, drawing parallels with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, emphasizing that “a principled policy with double standards is inconceivable.”
SYRIZA: “Inconceivable Statement”
SYRIZA adopted an equally sharp tone, describing the Prime Minister’s statement as “inconceivable.” The main opposition party argued that international legality applies to everyone and that Greece “does not have the luxury of hypocrisy.”
SYRIZA accused the government of relativizing the military intervention in Venezuela and warned that the “law of the strong” legitimizes the aggressiveness of revisionist powers, directly linking it to Turkey’s stance towards Greece and Cyprus. The party stressed that the country must defend international law “consistently and not à la carte,” especially as a member of the UN Security Council.
Marinakis: “Shallowness and Ideologies”
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis responded by calling SYRIZA’s reaction “expected,” citing its “long-standing relations with the Maduro regime.” He also expressed surprise at PASOK’s stance, noting that it had not found “a single word” to describe the dictatorial nature of the regime, as – according to him – all European leaders had done. “For the opposition parties, shallowness and ideologies seem to prevail over the responsibility required by the circumstances,” he stated.
PASOK’s Counter-Response
PASOK issued another strong statement, accusing the government spokesperson of “Goebbels-like tactics” and attempting to cover up the blow from the Prime Minister’s decision not to explicitly mention respect for international law. It reiterated that it had characterized the Maduro regime as “illiberal authoritarian,” noting that both the Socialist International and the Party of European Socialists had not recognized the results of the July 2024 elections and had supported sanctions against Maduro himself.
PASOK emphasized that the need for a new chapter in Venezuela cannot legitimize military options against the will of the country’s people. It directly questioned how Greece could invoke international law on the Cyprus issue and in the Aegean if it selectively accepts it. “International law is not a flag of convenience,” the statement concluded.
Government Sources: “Responsible and Serious Stance”
Government sources countered that the Greek government adopted a serious and responsible stance from the outset, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in constant contact with European partners, the UN Security Council, and Greek diplomatic authorities on the ground. Additionally, preparations were made to support Greek citizens in the country.
The same sources noted that the Prime Minister highlighted the dictatorial nature of the Maduro regime, aligned with European leaders, and indicated that issues of legality would be evaluated at the appropriate time. Greece’s official position, it was stressed, would be institutionally expressed at the UN Security Council meeting.
Alexis Tsipras’s Intervention
Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras condemned the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, calling it a “blatant violation of International Law” and attributing the operation to the control of the country’s oil reserves. Tsipras argued that democracy cannot be imposed through military interventions and bombings, and he described Europe as unable to play a substantial international role. Finally, he warned that Greece faces risks as long as it abandons an active, multi-dimensional foreign policy and adopts the stance of a “willing ally.”
Marinakis’s New Response
The government spokesperson responded to Tsipras, accusing him of taking almost 24 hours to express “support for his beloved dictator Maduro” and reminding him of SYRIZA’s relations with the Venezuelan regime, referring to past contacts, trips, and accusations. In conclusion, he noted that both Tsipras and the opposition “probably read a different announcement” from the Prime Minister, reiterating the government’s position that it acted responsibly in an extremely complex international crisis.
