The Data Protection Authority of Greece has found that a file containing the personal email addresses and data of thousands of expatriate voters from the 2023 Greek national elections was leaked from the Interior Ministry to Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou, an MEP for the ruling New Democracy party. The Interior Ministry was fined EUR 400,000, and Asimakopoulou received a fine of EUR 40,000 for violating voter privacy. Investigations into New Democracy's involvement in the scandal are ongoing, and additional fines may be imposed. Asimakopoulou used the list to send mass campaign emails to Greek expatriates, promoting her re-election bid to the European Parliament on the same day the Interior Ministry sent a separate message to inform voters about postal voting procedures. Asimakopoulou, who previously served as vice-chair of the committee on international trade, has resigned.

Source: Data Protection Authority, Politico, Reuters

On 15 February, the Greek parliament passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage and granting same-sex couples the ability to adopt, and full parental rights to those with existing children. The bill doesn’t allow same-sex couples to pursue surrogacy, which is currently allowed only for women, single or married, who are unable to have children for health reasons. The bill received 176 votes in favor,76 against, and 31 abstentions. While several members of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right party did not support the bill, it garnered enough support from the leftist opposition to pass. Greece is the first Orthodox Christian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The legalization of same-sex marriage is a divisive issue in Greece with especially strong opposition from the Orthodox Church.

Sources: Greek parliament, Reuters, Balkan Insight, Ekathimerini (1), Ekathimerini (2)

Police fatally shot an unarmed 17-year-old Roma boy in Boeotia after the driver reportedly evaded a traffic stop leading to a car chase. According to media reports, police related that one of the passengers attempted to steal the officer’s weapon, resulting in it discharging accidentally, whereas the victim’s brother present at the scene has accused the police officer of firing the gun. The officer has been suspended, and prosecutors have charged the officer with homicide and illegal use of a weapon. Greek law allows the use of firearms by police officers only if their safety, or the safety of a third party, is threatened, and prohibits the use of weapons against a person fleeing when called upon to stop. The incident follows previous police shootings of Roma teenagers in December 2022 and October 2021, sparking protests and riots. The killing has triggered debates about police brutality and the treatment of ethnic minorities. Protests have broken out, spearheaded by members of the Roma community, and the Panhellenic Confederation of Greek Roma (Ellan Passe) called on the state to tackle racism and intolerance in connection with the shooting.

Sources: European Roma Rights Centre, Ekathimerini, Al Jazeera (1), Al Jazeera (2), Balkan Insight, Ellan Passe, News 24/7, Civil Protection Ministry

The Syriza opposition party has accused the government of mismanagement of the wildfire and experts say that weaknesses in emergency planning, insufficient coordination between different authorities and the underfunding of the national forestry service have prevented an effective crisis response. Although the government has initiated policy changes, it has shifted the blame to arsonists, arresting 79 people for suspected arson this summer and announcing future tougher penalties for the crime. This has inflamed social divisions, with claims circulating that migrants are committing arson and far-right militias forming to ‘catch’ them. Three vigilantes have been arrested for forcing 13 migrants into a trailer as they blamed them for setting the fires. This prompted the Supreme Court Prosecutor to order an investigation into claims of racism against migrants. Greece saw the largest wildfire recorded in the EU since the bloc started collecting data in 2000. The wildfire has scorched over 80,000 hectares and claimed at least 20 lives, 18 of whom are thought to be migrants.

Sources:  ReliefWeb, Kathimerini, Wall Street Journal, British Broadcasting Corporation