The looming foray into politics of the most prominent relative of a Tempi rail victim, Maria Karystianou, continued to attract heightened media attention, and just as importantly, first critical reactions by other politic parties and even the center-right government, with the former’s televised statements regarding, among others, abortion rights in Greece, making headlines.

In a televised interview on a morning current affairs program on Monday morning, Karystianou, who up until last week headed up an association of relatives of some of the Tempi victims, said the issue of abortion rights is an “issue for public consultation”.

A woman’s right to an abortion has been enshrined in law for decades, while the issue has never had the heated and divisive characteristics that it has in other countries, such as the United States, most notably. Only over the past few years have some conservative quarters, including the influential Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Greece, lamented the supposedly high number of abortions in the country, compared to other western countries. Exact figures are not known, however, as the state does not oblige private practitioners and clinic to supply such figures.

At the same time, the idea of making the procedure illegal is “anathema” to practically all of Greece’s mainstream political parties.

Specifically, when asked about the issue on Monday during an appearance on the Open television channel, Karystianou first said she respects women’s free will and rights, but at the same added that “there’s a moral dimension concerning the embryo.”

“My scientific background has put me in a position to see things while caring for the life that has been created, fully understanding a woman’s right to decide,” Karystianou, a pediatrician, first said, while adding: “…after a child’s heart beats after three months, it’s considered that life has been created.”

At the same time, she clarified that her reference to public consultation does not concern the issue of abortion exclusively, but, in general, issues that affect how society functions: “Issues that affect our society can be resolved through public consultation,” she merely said.

Karystianou has repeatedly indicated over the recent period that she’ll play a decisive role in creating a new political formation in Greece, which by accounts will feature characteristics of “anti-establishment” and “anti-corruption” civil movement. At the same time, she’s said she is not interested in leading a new party.

Moreover, prior to Monday’s appearance on television, Karystianou provided little or no feedback on policy statements or even a general ideological direction that such a party would follow.

Sharp criticism

While previous considered “immune” to criticism by the government and parties due to her status as the most prominent relative of a Tempi victim – Karystianou’s 20-year-old daughter, Marthi, was among the 57 fatalities – her recent intent to enter the political arena and some “blowback” by other relatives more-or-less changed her status.

Maria Karystianou, left, with her daughter Marthi, 20, one of the 57 victims of the Tempi rail collision in late February 2023.

For instance, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, speaking during a regular press briefing on Monday, emphasized that the “…the most frightening thing is that this came from a physician. There is no turning back. Every woman, every person, is responsible for their own body. Period.”

On his part, main opposition PASOK party spokesman Panagiotis Doudounis emphasized that the “…the issue of abortion was resolved in Greece in 1986 by the (PASOK) government of Andreas Papandreou.”

“As a lawyer and politician, I must respond: a woman’s right to do what she wants with her body has been enshrined in law, and the issue has been resolved once and for all, because Greece has a constitution.”