Floridis warns of attack from Türkiye if Greece is left without a government
Greek Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis has warned that political instability following the upcoming elections could leave Greece vulnerable to an attack from Türkiye, drawing a strong response from opposition party PASOK.
Speaking to Greece's state broadcaster ERT ahead of the upcoming general election, Floridis said the central issue would be whether Greece would have a functioning government after the vote.
Arguing that Greece's geopolitical position makes political stability particularly important, Floridis warned that a government vacuum could expose the country to serious external risks.
"If the country is left without a government, we should have no doubt that an attack will come from the other side," Floridis said.
The justice minister cited the 2020 border crisis along the Meriç (Έβρος) River and the Kardak (Ίμια) crisis as examples of situations in which, he argued, Greece could face heightened risks in the absence of a government.
Referring to the developments along the Meriç border in 2020, Floridis described the migration movement at the time as an "organized invasion" and argued that Greece would have faced a serious security risk had it not had a government.
Floridis also stressed that Greece needs a strong government because of developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and its relations with Türkiye. He argued that a political vacuum could weaken the country's ability to defend its sovereign rights.
"Greece cannot remain without a government even for a single day," Floridis said.
His remarks triggered a strong reaction from the opposition, particularly because they linked the possibility of New Democracy (ND) failing to secure a government on its own with the prospect of a threat from Türkiye.
PASOK condemns Floridis' remarks
PASOK spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas strongly criticized the justice minister's comments, accusing the government of entering a "dangerous path."
Tsoukalas argued that the government was effectively warning Greek voters that political instability could lead to intervention by Türkiye. He said Floridis' remarks directly raised the possibility of a military confrontation with Türkiye and addressed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the issue.
"Ministers must not be allowed to play with national issues. The homeland is above petty political interests," Tsoukalas said.
He also accused the government of being "dangerous, authoritarian and arrogant."
Floridis' remarks have therefore fueled a broader political debate in Greece—not only over relations with Türkiye, but also over the political consequences of the upcoming election and the government's electoral strategy.
