In an online discussion on Saturday, Adonis Georgiadis described Amnesty International and the ICJ as “left-wing, unimportant groups” and argued that “no one should pay any attention to them.”

Thanos Plevris then echoed and expanded on Georgiadis’ line. In a post on X, the former health minister claimed that European and international courts, as well as human-rights bodies, have long been “dominated by left-wing ideology.” He argued that rulings on migration “make deportations difficult,” oppose offshore detention centres and “interfere” with states’ attempts to fortify borders.

Plevris added that he is “indifferent” to criticism from such institutions regarding legislation he supported, including the suspension of asylum procedures, criminalisation of irregular residence and accelerated deportations. Negative reactions, he argued, “often confirm the correctness” of these measures.

He went further on Gaza, adopting language similar to that used by Benjamin Netanyahu, alleging that international institutions have shown “excessive sensitivity to terrorist perpetrators” rather than victims, framing Israel’s assault as merely “a fight against terrorism.”

PASOK demands a response from Mitsotakis

Dimitris Mantzos, head of PASOK’s foreign affairs section, sharply criticised both ministers, warning that their statements undermine Greece’s credibility and its long-standing foreign-policy reliance on international law.

“International courts and international justice are an integral part of the rules-based international order, binding for all states that have accepted them — including ours,” Mantzos said. The ministers’ posts, he continued, “question Greece’s participation in the international system of interpreting and applying international law” and reveal an attitude that sees legal norms “as a luxury that must yield to the law of the strong.”

Mantzos asked the Prime Minister to take a public stance:
“Does he agree with his ministers? Do their statements reflect the policy of his government?”

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