Greek leaders, including Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and former Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, have pushed back against the notion that Greece is influenced by the so-called "woke agenda," a term often used to describe heightened awareness of social justice issues and, more critically, what some see as overreach in political correctness.
Speaking on Friday, Ms. Bakoyannis, a senior New Democracy (ND) party official and sister to Mr. Mitsotakis, emphasized that Greece faces different social and political challenges.
“There’s no woke agenda in Greece. Greece cannot be lumped in with what’s happening in America,” she stated during a morning television appearance.
She called for moderation and balance, citing an ancient Greek proverb: “Moderation in all things.”
Her remarks followed the Prime Minister’s comments during a discussion on Thursday with French author and philosopher Pascal Bruckner.
Mr. Mitsotakis described the woke culture in the United States as a "tyranny of minority views," while clarifying that Greece firmly protects fundamental human rights without adopting the divisive ideological trends observed in the U.S.
Both leaders rejected attempts to link Greece’s policies or political climate to the evolving dynamics in the United States. “We do not have the problems of the United States,” Ms. Bakoyannis stressed.
She noted that Greece’s challenges, particularly around irregular migration, require tailored solutions, not imported debates.
The Prime Minister also tied the U.S. political shift to issues such as undocumented migration, which he said is a shared concern for Europe and North America.
Mr. Mitsotakis highlighted Greece’s “very strict” migration policies, suggesting they contrast with the challenges faced by the U.S.
Ms. Bakoyannis further addressed criticism from political groups to the right of New Democracy, denying claims that the party is shifting rightward.
“There’s an attempt to transplant this conversation from America to here. We don’t have America’s issues,” she reiterated, while acknowledging increasing migration flows and affirming Greece’s readiness to manage them.
The comments from Greece’s leadership underscore their effort to distinguish the country’s political climate from ongoing cultural debates in the United States, reflecting a broader rejection of applying the "woke agenda" label to Greek society.