A contentious draft amendment transferring the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier monument and the commons in front of the site to the defense ministry was approved in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon by 159 deputies out of the 293 that voted in the process. Four deputies were absent.
The final tally ratifying the amendment included three “yea” votes by independent deputies.
In his address to the plenum, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized that the site is a national monument that belongs to all, and not a place for protest and activism.
Conversely, all of the opposition parties, from the far-right to the far-left and the political space in between, sharply criticized the legislative initiative, albeit with differing arguments. The main theme of criticism aimed at the amendment held that it would impede freedom of assembly and free speech.
What the amendment foresees
According to provisions in the two-article amendment, which was signed by seven ministers, including Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, the new law prohibits the occupation of the space and alteration of the area etc. in front of the monument – opposite Syntagma Square, and specifies the penalties (possible jail sentences and fines) imposed on violators.
In terms of the division of responsibilities for the site among various ministries, the amendment stipulates that Greek Police shall be responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing prohibitions. The ministry of defense will be responsible for the “maintenance, care, and promotion of the monument.” Questions were raised by the opposition over whether the latter stipulation means that the defense ministry can contract the site’s care to a private contractor.
The amendment was also accompanied by a landscape map of the site, detailing its exact dimensions.
