Hours after government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis drew criticism for his pointed remarks about Maria Karystianou’s delayed public response, her independent civic movement ‘Hope for Democracy’ issued a statement on Thursday afternoon (2 July 2026) condemning the arson attacks in Thessaloniki.
A Delayed but Forceful Response
Karystianou and her movement had earlier been at the centre of political media attention following Marinakis’s comments during his press briefing. When asked why she had not yet publicly condemned the attacks — which claimed the life of Vagia Nestora, mother of New Democracy MP Aphrodite Nestora — Marinakis said he ‘wanted to believe’ she would issue a statement. He added: ‘A mother, a grandmother, a human being was killed in such a horrific way. I can’t believe Ms. Karystianou lacks the sensitivity to release a statement.’ He attributed the delay to ‘an oversight’, but his remarks intensified political pressure on the movement’s leader.
Statement of Solidarity and Demand for Justice
In its official announcement, ‘Hope for Democracy’ expressed ‘profound condolences’ to the victims’ families and wished a swift recovery for the injured. The movement noted that, led by its president Maria Karystianou, many within its ranks have personally experienced ‘the indescribable pain of losing a human life’ and stand ‘wholeheartedly’ with the victims’ loved ones.
The group also called on competent authorities to exhaust all available means to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice — ‘exemplarily punished’, it stressed.
Linking Thessaloniki to Tempi
Crucially, the statement went beyond condemnation. It explicitly linked the Thessaloniki attacks to the broader demand for accountability — citing the devastating Tempi rail disaster, Greece’s deadliest train crash. The movement stated its aim is to ensure victims’ families do not endure ‘what the relatives and survivors of the Tempi tragedy continue to suffer to this day’.
It underscored that ‘the value of human life is immeasurable’ and that protecting it is a shared obligation. ‘Hope for Democracy’ urged citizens to demand ‘security and justice’ from the government — two fundamental goods, it noted, ‘of which we are so glaringly deprived’.