Widespread xenophobic political discourse prior to the upcoming national elections

Alert DateMarch 26, 2012 Country: Greece General Type: Racist discourse Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants, Refugees, Asylum seekers Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Policing - law enforcement, Employment - labour market, Housing, Health and social protection, Political discourse -parties - orgs, Daily life Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Political Discourse

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Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

The immigration issue has entered the political agenda in terms of danger to public health and insecurity, in view of the upcoming national elections on 6 May 2012.

The re-emergence of the immigration issue was triggered by the declaration of Citizen's Protection Minister, Mr Mihalis Chryssochoides, to build 30 detention centres for migrants throughout Greece followed by the xenophobic discourse from a big part of the political spectrum and several police controls and arrests in the Athens centre[1]. In particular, the Citizen's Protection Minister, Mr Mihalis Chryssohoides and the Minister of Health, Mr. Andreas Loverdos declared in a common press conference that "We live on a sanitary bomb ready to explode and should be treated with seriousness, responsibility, against every kind of populism."[2] On this issue, the two ministers publicized a provision that aims, among others, to establish a health certificate as a prerequisite for migrants to work [3].

Mr Antonis Samaras, the leader of New Democracy -  the major opposition party that takes part in the temporary government of Mr. Lucas Papademos - declared on this issue in a party meeting that "Our cities have been occupied by illegal immigrants. We will take them over again."[4]

In response to the "sanitary bomb" allegations, the ​Doctors of the World mentioned that "These people, by more than 60%, entered the country healthy, however, acquired diseases (such as easily transmitted tuberculosis) due to the appalling conditions that still prevail in detention centres."[5]

Sources:

  1. tvcosmos.gr, 01.04.2012, Προεκλογική επιχείρηση "Σκούπα" (Pre-election operation "Sweep") http://www.tvkosmos.gr/details.aspx?id=513242, Accessed on 06.04.2012.
  2. Madata.gr, 02.04.2012, Μέτρα για την "Υγιειονομική βόμβα" που λέγεται λαθρομεταναστες (Measures for the "Sanitary bomb" that is called illegal immigrants), http://www.madata.gr/epikairotita/social/184199.html, Accessed on 06.04.2012. 
  3. Kathimerini, 01.04.2012, "Υγειονομική βόμβα από τη μετανάστευση", διαπιστώνουν Λοβέρδος-Χρυσοχοΐδης ("Sanitary bomb due to immigration", find Loverdos-Chryssochoides), http://www.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_kathremote_1_01/04/2012_435808, Accessed on 06.04.2012.
  4. News247, 29.03.2012, Σαμαράς: "Οι πόλεις μας έχουν καταληφθεί από λαθρομετανάστες" (Samaras: "Our cities have been occupied by illegal immigrants"), http://news247.gr/eidiseis/politiki/samaras_oi_poleis_mas_exoyn_katalhfthei_apo_lathrometanastes.1712248.html, Accessed on 06.04.2012.
  5. newscosmos.com, 06.04.2012, Να πώς δημιουργείται μία υγειονομική "βόμβα" (This is how a sanitary "bomb" is created), http://www.newskosmos.com/details.aspx?id=518602, Accessed on 06.04.2012.