According to Efimerida ton Syntakton, the amendment prohibits "public outdoor gatherings of any nature, even spontaneous citizen assemblies" in the area extending from the monument to where the sidewalk ends at the upper part of Syntagma Square and Vasilissis Amalias Avenue begins. The government justifies the measure as necessary to protect and highlight the historical significance of the war memorial, though critics argue it represents a blatant violation of constitutional rights to assembly and protest.
Under the new regulations, the area would be restricted solely to monument visits and official ceremonies such as wreath-laying. Responsibility for the monument's maintenance and care would transfer from local authorities to the Ministry of Defense, which could either manage it directly or contract the work to third parties. The Hellenic Police would retain enforcement authority.
The government's explanatory statement emphasizes that the monument serves as "a burial memorial dedicated to the struggles of the Greek nation, honoring unknown soldiers fallen for their country in battles for national independence." Officials argue that the restricted area represents less than one-fifth of Syntagma Square's total surface and point to similar restrictions around war memorials in countries including the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Canada, and Australia.
However, the timing and motivation behind the amendment have raised serious questions. Political observers widely believe the measure aims to prevent future mass demonstrations related to the Tempi train disaster, which killed 57 people, mostly students, in February 2023. The government appeared particularly concerned about avoiding repetition of activist Panos Routsis's highly publicized hunger strike at the site, which drew attention to judicial and governmental handling of the tragedy.
A particularly sensitive issue involves the names of the 57 Tempi victims, which relatives and supporters wrote on the pavement near the monument. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis indicated authorities would not actively erase the names but would allow them to fade naturally with time and weather, stating the government would not engage in "a priori aggressive action" as "the goal is not divisive." However, he emphasized that once passed, "the law is not à la carte."
The amendment, co-signed by seven ministers including those responsible for Finance, National Defense, Interior, Citizen Protection, Culture, Justice, and Environment, has been incorporated into a Civil Aviation bill being voted on today.
In response, the "Mehri Telous" (Until the End) initiative and relatives of Tempi victims have called for a demonstration at 8 PM tonight at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, coinciding with the parliamentary vote. The group, which rewrote the victims' names in red paint on Sunday night, has appealed to student associations, labor unions, neighborhood collectives, and solidarity movements to join the protest against what they describe as an attempt to silence democratic expression.
Photo: Thriassio