Greek MP and SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance parliamentary group leader Rena Dourou announced she will not attend the official reception at the Presidential Mansion on 24 July, marking the anniversary of the restoration of democracy in 1974. Her decision was communicated in a formal letter addressed to President Konstantinos Tasoulas.
A Statement of Principle
In the letter, Dourou explained that SYRIZA–PA has chosen to abstain from the event because, in its view, the ceremony ‘stands far removed’ from genuine reflection on democracy, democratic institutions, and collective historical memory. The party criticized the inclusion of individuals it described as ‘junta nostalgists,’ representatives of the far right, and revisionists of modern Greek history.
Concerns Over Historical Memory
Dourou emphasized that the growing presence of such figures at the event does not honor democracy—but rather undermines the memory of dictatorship victims, torture survivors, and genuine resistance fighters who were imprisoned or exiled. She stressed that their participation offends the democratic struggles of the Greek people.
Alternative Commemoration
Instead of attending the official reception, SYRIZA–PA’s parliamentary group will mark the anniversary at historic sites linked to the anti-dictatorship resistance—aiming to pay tribute to those who opposed the 1967–1974 military junta and to safeguard collective memory against oblivion and historical revisionism.