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Greek Opposition Leader Criticizes Government Stance on Femicide
🇬🇷 Greece /Elections & Politics

Greek Opposition Leader Criticizes Government Stance on Femicide

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Zoi Konstantopoulou, president of the Plevsi Eleftherias party, criticizes the Greek government for its stance on femicide.
  • She argues that not criminalizing femicide as a standalone offense sends the wrong message and fuels gender-based violence.
  • Konstantopoulou also discussed the Tempi train crash trial and the importance of transparency in legal proceedings.

Zoi Konstantopoulou, president of the Plevsi Eleftherias party, has strongly criticized the Greek government's approach to femicide, stating that approximately 95% of women murdered in Greece are victims of this specific crime. In a recent interview, she argued that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's refusal to criminalize femicide as a distinct felony sends a dangerous message and contributes to the epidemic of gender-based violence.

One of the main problems is that the political system and the state itself do not take a clear position, leaving the landscape unclear.

— Zoi KonstantopoulouCriticizing the government's handling of the femicide issue.

Konstantopoulou highlighted that the political system and the state are failing to take a clear stance, leaving the issue ambiguous. She expressed disbelief that a prime minister would oppose the criminalization of femicide, particularly when data shows over 65 femicides in the past five years, with perpetrators often being partners or ex-partners. She defined femicide as the act of taking a woman's life specifically because she is a woman, often by individuals who hold power over her, characterizing it as an act of devaluation.

The act of femicide is devaluation. To take a woman's life because you say she is not worth it.

— Zoi KonstantopoulouDefining femicide and its underlying motive.

She emphasized that the state has a duty to send a clear message against gender-based violence. Criminalizing femicide, she believes, could act as a deterrent and prevent the application of mitigating circumstances. Konstantopoulou drew parallels to specific categories of crimes like war crimes or genocide, arguing that gender-based murder deserves similar distinct legal recognition.

Femicide is a punishable offense, distinct from the general rule of homicide.

— Zoi KonstantopoulouArguing for the specific criminalization of femicide.

Furthermore, Konstantopoulou addressed the ongoing trial related to the Tempi train crash, stating that the request for live television coverage has not been rejected and the process is ongoing. She stressed the trial's societal importance and the need for transparency to combat misinformation. She also commented on opinion polls, deeming them unreliable and tools for erosion, while asserting that Plevsi Eleftherias continues to provide substantive opposition.

It is a trial that concerns all of society, it is a trial that must be broadcast.

— Zoi KonstantopoulouRegarding the importance of transparency in the Tempi train crash trial.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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