The deadly collision off Chios that left 15 migrants dead and 24 injured has ignited a fierce political confrontation in Greece’s Parliament, where lawmakers are debating a new immigration bill.
The government has rallied behind the Hellenic Coast Guard, praising its actions and placing responsibility squarely on people-smuggling networks. Opposition parties, however, are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation, warning against what they describe as premature conclusions and inflammatory rhetoric, especially in the aftermath of the Pylos shipwreck in 2023, which has been described as the “deadliest migrant shipwreck in recent history” that led to the loss of over 600 lives.
Government: Migrants are “Enemies of the state”
Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias issued a written statement following the tragedy but did not appear before Parliament, as opposition lawmakers had urged.
“The loss of 15 lives in Chios fills us with unspeakable sorrow. Our thoughts are with the injured migrants and Coast Guard personnel,” Kikilias said.
He went on to describe modern smugglers as “enemies of the state,” accusing them of placing human lives in mortal danger for profit.
“The state is showing and will show zero tolerance toward these networks,” he said, adding that the investigation into the causes of the incident would be conducted “with transparency and professionalism.”
Kikilias also thanked the Coast Guard, emergency responders and hospital staff on Chios for their efforts.
During the parliamentary debate, Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris expressed “sorrow for the deaths” and reiterated the government’s position that smugglers bear responsibility.
“There was a vessel that, after being detected by the Coast Guard, attempted a maneuver, struck the Coast Guard boat and an accident occurred, resulting in deaths and injuries,” he said. He congratulated Coast Guard officers “who saved the people who were rescued” and “guard our country’s borders.”
Plevris argued that the incident underscores the need for stricter penalties included in the immigration bill under discussion, targeting what he called “murderous traffickers who are solely responsible.”
In a second intervention, Plevris doubled down, defending the Coast Guard and directly challenging opposition criticism. “The women and men of the Coast Guard are doing their job and guarding the borders. The criminals are the traffickers who put 40 people in an eight-meter boat,” he said. “An investigation is obviously underway. I refer to the Coast Guard report, which I believe.”
“You can believe the smugglers,” he continued, clearly implying that those seeking a more thorough investigation or casting doubt on the Coast Guard’s account were giving credence to criminals.
Opposition: “We are talking about human beings”
Opposition parties accused the government of rushing to assign blame and failing to provide full information to Parliament.
Alexandros Kazamias of Plefsi Eleftherias criticized Plevris for offering congratulations rather than detailed answers. Referring to the Pylos shipwreck disaster where over 600 people are thought to have perished, he said lawmakers deserved a full briefing on the number of dead and injured.
From PASOK, Dimitris Mantzos said the state’s minimum obligation is to conduct an in-depth investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
“It is not possible for this investigation to be exhausted in a Coast Guard announcement, nor in the statement of the migration minister,” he said, urging Kikilias to appear before Parliament. He also urged his colleagues from New Democracy to stop applauding the government’s statements saying: “no applause today, colleagues. We have dead.”
Mantzos noted that Greece has faced scrutiny and rulings from the European Court of Human Rights over migration management in the past, while underlining the need to isolate any practices that tarnish the country’s reputation is essential.
From SYRIZA, Christos Giannoulis said the priority of a state governed by the rule of law must be to express “deep pain for dozens of people lost in the Aegean — for unborn children lost, for men and women who died seeking a better future.”
“We are talking about human beings,” he said, warning against turning a tragedy into “a display of bravado and nationalist rhetoric.”
In a formal statement, SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance called for clear answers about whether proper procedures were followed, whether mistakes were made and whether illegal pushbacks — which it described as unlawful and dangerous — can be ruled out. The party warned that it would not accept any attempt at a cover-up.
The Communist Party of Greece described the incident as “a link in a chain of crimes” tied to European Union and government policies, raising questions about whether protocols were followed and calling for accountability “wherever it exists.” The party’s Chios branch called for a public rally in the island’s central square.
Sia Anagnostopoulou of New Left described it as “a very bad day for our country,” accusing the government of prioritizing praise for border enforcement over mourning.
