In an interview on the morning of 18 March, 2025, Greece's newly appointed Minister of Migration and Asylum, Makis Voridis, used extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric of hate, referring to "forced pushbacks." He argued that Greece needs effective policies, including ones that would pressure migrants into wanting to leave the country. His statements raised concerns about the tactics his administration might implement.

Speaking in an interview with Mega TV, Voridis acknowledged that migration is a challenge across Europe that requires international cooperation. He emphasised that it is a matter beyond the capability of any single nation to handle on its own.

He outlined the two main priorities for the Ministry of Migration and Asylum:

  1. Strengthening policies on illegal immigration and improving the organisation of pushbacks.

  2. Managing legal immigration in a way that is more controlled, stricter, and more efficient.

Stricter measures on illegal immigration

Voridis made it clear that his priority is to tighten controls on illegal immigration. He admitted that “voluntary returns” are few, and that the balance between migrant inflows and outflows is currently poor. He also stated:

“Those who are not eligible for asylum are illegal migrants, or ‘undocumented migrants,’ and they must face pushbacks.”

The minister further explained that returns are not always voluntary, adding that when migrants are sent back to their home countries, they are sometimes refused entry. He insisted that the government needs effective policies to address this issue and hinted at plans to encourage migrants to leave voluntarily.

Supporting the PM’s position

Voridis expressed pride in PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, claiming that he has fought hard to reshape the European agenda on migration. He praised him for his role in strengthening border security, echoing his racist rhetoric regarding the “criminality” of migrants.

Regulating legal immigration

While the minister’s comments primarily focused on illegal immigration, he also addressed the legal immigration, which he claimed must be more functional, stricter, and regulated. He suggested that there are significant labour shortages in certain sectors of Greece’s economy, and that the government should have control over who enters, where they work, and for how long they stay.

He added:

“All migrants must respect the Greek way of life, our traditions, and our customs.”

These comments further reinforced his nationalist and exclusionary stance on migration. Voridis claimed that the migrant labour market is often non-compliant with legal frameworks, including tax and labour laws.

He further stated:

“When we decide to employ them, they should be employed just like anyone else. But this is not about allowing them to stay— they come, they work, and they leave.”

Referring to Trump administration

Finally, the minister expressed a desire to intensify the international discussion about migration, citing the policies of the United States under the Trump administration. He argued that Europe must also bring its economic and negotiating power to the table in any future discussions on migration.

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