Vasiliki, 39, was stabbed 45 times by her husband in Kalamata on June 1, while their two children slept next door. Friends describe twenty years of abuse, control and fear. This is the fifth femicide in Greece in 2026, and the 77th since 2020. The debate that follows is always the same: whether legally recognizing femicide as a distinct crime will help, or whether the answer lies in culture, education and policy. The government points to 3,850 domestic violence arrests in the first four months of 2026 as evidence the phenomenon has gained visibility.

Convicted Intellexa founder Tal Dilian made a statement this week, claiming “We are a technology provider, not mercenaries. We sell to government agencies in accordance with all required regulations, but we never operate the systems on their behalf.” The implication was clear: if Predator was used in Greece, a state actor used it. Yesterday, journalist Thanasis Koukakis, one of the first known surveillance victims, filed a request with the Council of State prosecutor to reopen the case, arguing that Dilian’s claims point to either the Greek intelligence service or a foreign government as the operator.

Arrivals to southern Crete from Libya have surged, with nearly 300 migrants reaching shore in a single 24-hour period. Migration Minister Plevris warned that “very hard measures” are being prepared. Last summer, in a highly controversial move, Greece suspended access to asylum for three months. The European Court of Human Rights issued two interim measures blocking deportations at the time. Meanwhile, this week the EU agreed new rules allowing rejected asylum seekers to be sent to return hubs outside the bloc, a policy the Greek government strongly supports and human rights groups have flagged as draconian and dangerous.

Greece received good news on Wednesday when the European Commission removed it from its list of member states with macroeconomic imbalances, for the first time since the debt crisis. The broader picture, however, is less rosy. Inflation hit 5% in May, nearly double the eurozone average, largely driven by high energy prices. Importing 93% of its energy, Greece remains chronically exposed to external shocks. The Commission also flagged persistent structural weaknesses, including low labor productivity and a high stock of non-performing loans.