Sydney – Former Greek finance minister and prominent leftist politician Yanis Varoufakis is set to appear before a Greek court on December 16, 2026, charged with “inciting others to illegal use of narcotics” — stemming from candid remarks he made about taking ecstasy at a Kylie Minogue concert in Sydney in 1989.
The 64-year-old economist, who holds dual Greek-Australian citizenship and lectured at the University of Sydney from 1988 to 2000, described the prosecution as “politically motivated” and symptomatic of a “dangerous drift towards the fascist right” in Europe.
Speaking to SBS Greek, Varoufakis called the case meritless and part of a broader institutional collapse. “The one takeaway from this sordid affair is that in Europe, our justice system, our media, our political system are deconstructing themselves,” he said. “They’re fragmenting, losing substance, and being weaponised.”
From Festival Memory to Criminal Charge
The charges originated from comments Varoufakis made in early 2026 on the satirical podcast 3026: Human Algorithm, aimed at younger audiences. When asked about past drug use, he openly recounted taking an ecstasy pill during a Kylie Minogue concert following the Sydney Mardi Gras parade in 1989.
He described the experience as initially euphoric — allowing him to dance for hours — but followed by a severe migraine that deterred him from ever using the drug again. Varoufakis also admitted occasional past marijuana use, joking that he “can’t find it, and no one will give it to me” anymore.
Greek prosecutors allege the remarks constituted encouragement of illegal drug use. If convicted, Varoufakis faces at least six months in prison and fines up to €50,000 (around AUD $82,000).
Varoufakis has refused to apologise, insisting he spoke honestly to warn young people about addiction. “Determined not to do a Bill Clinton (‘I didn’t inhale’), I said I had,” he posted on X last month, referencing the former U.S. president’s infamous 1992 comment.
He framed his response as a cautionary tale: “I was trying to convey the great danger of taking a drug… the great danger is addiction… they have to tie themselves on a mast that prevents them from falling into the trap of Satan. That’s addiction.”
Political Backlash & Context
Varoufakis, who briefly served as Greece’s finance minister during the 2015 debt crisis under Syriza, now leads the small leftist party MeRA25. He remains popular among younger, disillusioned voters critical of mainstream politics.
His party condemned the case as an attempt to silence dissent. “The idea of a political party leader standing trial for referring to his experience with substances many decades ago is not a random and innocent blunder,” MeRA25 stated.
Varoufakis accuses the conservative government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of enabling far-right elements and weaponising the judiciary against opponents.
The case has sparked debate in Greece about free speech, generational attitudes toward drugs, and the politicisation of justice.
Varoufakis recently completed a speaking tour in Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney) as a guest of The Australia Institute.
The December 16 hearing will determine whether the prosecution proceeds.
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