Greek Education Minister Proposes Stripping Student Status for Riot Participation

Sophia Zacharakis, the Greek Minister of Education, emphasized that any student found participating in violent incidents will lose their student status. Speaking on the ERT program ‘Newsroom’ during a midday broadcast on Monday (5.5.25), she addressed the issue of security within universities. She stressed the importance of forming a collective effort to protect Greek public universities and reduce such incidents. According to her statement, laws must be enforced to ensure accountability. She clarified that not all participants in these events are students; some may be non-students. The minister reiterated the importance of strengthening existing regulations regarding the revocation of student status when judicial processes confirm involvement in violent activities. Over recent years, there has been a decrease in such incidents, but measures must still be taken to prevent them entirely. The minister also supports controlled entry systems similar to those in European institutions and advocates for financial responsibility for anyone damaging public property. Finally, she highlighted that universities should focus on education and safety rather than being platforms for revolutionary activities.