Makis Voridis, the Greek minister of intolerance and prejudice by Sabine Fischer

The recent appointment of Makis Voridis as Greece’s migration minister is more than just another conservative shift in an already right-wing government, it’s an alarming declaration that xenophobia, intolerance, and far-right nationalism are now official policy. Voridis, a man who has never shied away from expressing and acting upon his extreme views, is not merely overseeing migration policy; he is weaponizing it. And with the full blessing of the equally intolerant and corruption-stained Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek government is embarking on a dark and dangerous path, one that dismantles existing laws and replaces them with policies of prejudice, exclusion, and systematic discrimination.

Makis Voridis is no stranger to extremism. His past affiliations, statements, and actions paint a clear picture of a politician whose ideology is steeped in nationalist dogma and deep-seated xenophobia. This is a man who once wielded an axe in his youth as a member of far-right student groups, who has openly praised dictatorial regimes, and who has spent his career attacking progressive policies under the guise of patriotism. To place such a figure in charge of Greece’s migration policy is not just reckless, it is a deliberate act of malice, a clear message that the government no longer even pretends to care about human rights or international law.

Voridis’s appointment signals an acceleration of Greece’s already cruel and inhumane treatment of refugees and migrants. The past years have seen Greece violating human rights at an alarming rate, pushbacks in the Aegean, arbitrary detentions, and appalling conditions in refugee camps. But now, with Voridis at the helm, we are witnessing a shift from merely tolerating these violations to actively embedding them into the legislative framework of the country.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the approval, if not the enthusiastic support, of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Greek Prime Minister, ever the polished and media-friendly representative of his far-right party, has proven time and time again that his supposed moderation is a farce. Under his leadership, Greece has transformed into a country where democratic institutions are crumbling, press freedom is under attack, and human rights are increasingly viewed as optional rather than fundamental.

Mitsotakis is not simply allowing Voridis to implement his xenophobic agenda; he is actively enabling it. This is a calculated political move designed to appease the most extreme elements of New Democracy’s voter base while simultaneously distracting from his government’s corruption scandals, economic failures, and blatant attacks on civil liberties. The far-right has always thrived on manufacturing crises, and in the absence of real solutions to Greece’s deep-seated problems, Mitsotakis and Voridis have chosen to scapegoat migrants as the enemy.

What makes this even more outrageous is that Voridis is not merely enforcing stricter migration policies, he is dismantling existing laws, even those established by his own party. The Greek migration system, flawed as it was, at least maintained a semblance of adherence to EU regulations and international treaties. That is no longer the case. We are witnessing the calculated erosion of refugee protections, the elimination of pathways to asylum, and the criminalization of solidarity efforts. NGOs that dare to assist refugees are being targeted, activists are being prosecuted, and anyone who speaks out against this cruelty is branded a traitor.

Voridis’s policies are not about border security or national interest—they are about ideology. They are designed to erase Greece’s historical identity as a nation of refugees and migrants, to rewrite the narrative so that Greece is no longer a land of hospitality but a fortress of exclusion. The message is clear: if you are not Greek by blood and ideology, you are not welcome.

The real danger here is not just for migrants and refugees, but for Greek society as a whole. The appointment of a figure like Voridis and the unchallenged rise of his policies show that Greece is drifting into dangerous territory, one where discrimination is enshrined in law, where hatred is legitimized, and where democracy itself is under siege. This is not just about immigration; this is about the soul of Greece.

How long before these policies extend beyond migrants? How long before they start targeting other vulnerable groups? How long before dissent itself is criminalized under the same justifications of national purity and security?

This is a wake-up call. If Voridis’s appointment is met with silence, if Mitsotakis is allowed to continue his authoritarian slide unchecked, then the consequences will be dire—not just for those seeking refuge in Greece, but for every Greek citizen who still believes in justice, democracy, and human rights.

It is time to speak out, to resist, and to demand accountability. Because if we allow xenophobia to become law today, what horrors will be legalized tomorrow?