Maria Syreggela: New Measures Coming to Address University Violence

Speaking today at OPEN, Maria Syreggela, Secretary of the Political Committee of New Democracy and Member of Parliament for Western Athens, addressed incidents of violence in universities. “It’s important that currently there is no active occupation in universities, no semester has been lost, and wherever police intervention was required, it has occurred,” she stated. She emphasized that immediate safety plans from university authorities are necessary. At the rectors’ meeting, proposals from the Ministry of Education will also be reviewed. Regarding questions about the effectiveness of the University Police and whether there are two-tier rectors, Syreggela responded, “The University Police did not perform adequately, which we acknowledge. When something doesn’t work, we immediately take corrective actions. What truly matters to citizens is finding solutions rather than passing the buck.” Additionally, concerning SYRIZA’s stance, Syreggela noted, “SYRIZA was among the parties that opposed this legislation and I am surprised by what I hear. Not only did they oppose its passage, but even after it became law, they demanded it not be enforced. At least, we should agree with the opposition on two things: expelling students who cause trouble and ensuring police intervention when called.” Finally, commenting on recent polls, Syreggela said, “Our focus is on improving the daily lives of citizens. From the start, we’ve emphasized that our real opponent is everyday challenges, where we have placed all our emphasis, and where we will continue to prioritize in the future. Those claiming magical solutions exist for all issues simply cannot deliver them.