In a case that has raised eyebrows across Greece’s political spectrum, Yanis Varoufakis is set to stand trial over remarks he made on a podcast about trying ecstasy once and finding cannabis “pleasant.” The prosecution, based on Greece’s narcotics law, centers not on trafficking or possession, but on statements about personal experiences shared publicly.

The trial has been scheduled for Dec. 16, 2026. Varoufakis is accused of “incitement and advertising of narcotic substances” under Article 24 of Law 4139/2013, Greece’s main legislation regulating addictive substances.

The charges stem from remarks he made in January, when he said he had experimented with ecstasy on one occasion and spoke candidly about his view of cannabis.

Article 24 provides for criminal penalties for anyone who incites others to use illegal drugs, advertises their use, or disseminates information intended to promote their distribution. Under the law, offenders face a minimum prison sentence of six months and fines ranging from 500 to 50,000 euros, with harsher penalties in cases involving profit or professional activity. The same provision, however, specifies that expressing an opinion or scientific judgment about drugs does not constitute a criminal offense.

In a strongly worded statement, MeRA25 denounced the prosecution as “another episode in the path toward the fascization of the functioning of Justice” and alleged that the judiciary is being “absolutely manipulated by the government, especially its far-right wing.”

The party argued that bringing the head of a political party to trial over comments about personal experiences from decades ago sends a troubling message about freedom of expression. It pledged to continue speaking out both on what it described as judicial interference and on addiction policy, which it said should be approached with a modern scientific perspective rather than punitive reflexes.