A Greek woman set to launch a new political party after losing her child in a deadly train crash has ignited controversy by calling for a public consultation on abortion rights, fuelling concerns that her movement may take a conservative turn.
Maria Karystianou, a 53-year-old paediatrician, recently announced plans to launch a new party, saying its sole objective would be to fight corruption and that it would not adopt a specific ideological orientation.
However, early indications suggest the party will take a conservative stance. Karystianou has close ties to the Church, and her lawyer and close associate, Maria Gratsia, ran in the 2023 elections as a candidate for Niki, a party with strong links to the Greek Orthodox Church.
Greek parties shaken as mother of train crash victim enters politics
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In an interview with OPEN TV, Karystianou said she respects a woman’s free will and rights, but added that she believes abortion also raises moral questions related to the foetus.
“My scientific background has placed me in a position to approach the issue with care for the life that has been created, while fully recognising a woman’s right to make her own decision,” she said, arguing that the issue warrants a public consultation.
She also pointed to the point at which a child’s heart begins beating, saying that after three months it should be considered that life has been created.
The Greek Orthodox Church opposes abortion, but in Greece it remains legal within specified time limits – up to 12 weeks of pregnancy without the woman needing to provide a reason, and up to 19 weeks under strict conditions.
Karystianou’s comments have prompted a response from the government, the centre-right New Democracy party in which a significant faction holds more liberal views on social issues.
Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis described the doctor’s remarks as “shocking”: “We are not going to go back to matters that have already been settled … every woman, every person, is responsible for deciding over their own body. Full stop.”
However, progressive opposition parties reacted as well. The main opposition, the socialist PASOK party, said that the issue of abortions has been definitively resolved, while the leftist SYRIZA party described Karystianou’s remarks as “deeply dangerous.”
Karystianou’s potential party appears to draw support from across the political spectrum, but her recent remarks suggest that it may resonate more strongly with voters holding conservative views.
(bms, aw)