Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the fatal arson attack in Thessaloniki in the early hours of 1 July — an assault that claimed the life of Vagia Nestora, mother of New Democracy MP Aphrodite Nestora — in a Facebook post on Sunday, 5 July 2026. The post formed part of his weekly government work review.
A Firm Stance Against Lawlessness
‘What happened in Thessaloniki demonstrates in the harshest possible way that no ideological pretext can justify a murderous attack,’ Mitsotakis stated, referring to the blaze that killed Vagia Nestora.
‘It is obvious that our unwavering decision since 2019 to confront lawlessness head-on and enforce the rule of law everywhere has unsettled certain people. So let it be clear — from here and now — that we will not step back, nor will we allow Greece to return to the years of division. Just as the 17 November terrorist group was dismantled, and just as Golden Dawn was dissolved, so too will these brazen individuals who masquerade as revolutionaries be dealt with.’
Political Responsibility and Democratic Memory
Mitsotakis urged all political parties and figures to reflect on their responsibilities: ‘When political discourse turns toxic and divisive, when we treat opponents as enemies to be eradicated, we effectively pave the way for those who seek to commit crime. We experienced this painfully during the crisis years — and must not allow it to happen again.’
He added: ‘Memory is the daily struggle every democracy must wage if it wishes — and must — avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. This is especially relevant today, as we mark 11 years since the painful 2015 referendum, which nearly took Greece out of the euro. The forces behind that vote “learned nothing, but forgot nothing.” Today, they reappear with the same political views and without sincere remorse, seeking once again the citizens’ vote. Greece will move forward — even if some refuse to learn from the past.’
Policy Priorities
Alongside his remarks on security and democratic values, Mitsotakis highlighted government measures to tackle inflation and the recent abolition of the pension cuts imposed by the Katrougalos law — specifically those affecting widow’s pensions.