Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was slammed by opposition parties, local and foreign international law experts and especially Greek social media users late on Saturday after he commented on Venezuela and the abduction of president Nicholas Maduro by US special forces.
“This is not the time to comment on the legality of the recent actions,” Mitsotakis wrote, among others, on a post on social media and triggered a storm of reactions.
Nicholas Maduro presided over a brutal and repressive dictatorship that brought about unimaginable suffering on the Venezuelan people. The end of his regime offers new hope for the country. This is not the time to comment on the legality of the recent actions.
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) January 3, 2026
The first angry comments came from X users who sharply criticized him for appearing to tolerate violation of international law and urged him to contemplate on the illegal 51-year-old occupation of northern Cyprus by Turkey and wonder what will happen if Ankara and Erdogan decide to proceed with a similar action like US President Donald Trump.
Many wonder where the PM’s statement marks potential shift in Greece’s approach to international legality.
The majority of Greek users speak on X of a “shameful”, “disgusting” and “abysmal” statement.
On Sunday morning, it was the opposition parties that slammed the Greek Premier and accused him of sidestepping the critical issue of the actions’ legality, arguing that this undermines Greece’s longstanding commitment to international law and its foreign policy principles.
Main opposition party, the socialist PASOK labeled the statement “shameful and deeply problematic,” with spokesperson Dimitris Mantzos arguing that refraining from judging the legality of a military intervention erodes the foundation of Greek foreign policy—particularly as Greece currently serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and relies on international law to protect its own national interests. Mantzos pointedly asked whether such “silence” would be acceptable in cases like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or Turkey’s occupation of Cyprus.
Leftist SYRIZA’s criticism was even harsher, calling the prime minister’s position “unthinkable” and insisting that international legality cannot be applied selectively or confined to specific regions. Party officials warned that tolerating or downplaying military interventions—especially those tied to Donald Trump’s policies—risks sliding into a dangerous “law of the strong” mindset, which could weaken Greece’s stance against revisionist powers in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemned the statement as “cynical and despicable,” accusing the government of legitimizing imperialist interventions and fully aligning with U.S. rhetoric. The party argued that this approach not only harms the Venezuelan people but also sets dangerous precedents that could be invoked in other contexts, such as the ongoing situation in Cyprus.
The New Left echoed these concerns, describing the stance as a perilous departure from Greek foreign policy traditions. Party leader Alexis Charitsis called it subservient and cautioned that prioritizing political expediency over international legality could backfire on issues vital to Greece’s national security, especially given the country’s active role in UN bodies.
Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras also weighed in, framing the Venezuela events within a broader crisis of the international order where the “law of the strong” is gaining ground over established norms. He criticized Europe’s apparent weakness in asserting an independent role and warned that Greece risks significant vulnerabilities by abandoning a multifaceted foreign policy in favor of uncritical alliance with powerful partners.
In defense, Government Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis dismissed the opposition’s attacks, particularly from SYRIZA and PASOK. He characterized SYRIZA’s reaction as predictable, citing its alleged historical ties to the Maduro regime, and faulted PASOK for failing to acknowledge Maduro’s dictatorial rule—a point emphasized by European leaders.
Marinakis accused the opposition of letting “shallowness and ideological fixations” override the responsibility demanded by the current global landscape and said that they probably read a different statement.
sources: with IBNA on opposition parties reactions.
*thumbnail picture released by US authorities.
This was not an abduction but an arrest – it was done on the authority of an indictment issued by the former Biden administration. A little fact that many are leaving out.
You are talking Trumpian nonsense. The only power of arrest possible is one issued by the International Criminal Court — whose existence the USA refuses to accep. The USA also refuses to carry out ICC arrest warrants, and refuses to accept the existence of international laws such as “crimes against humanity”, “genocide” and “war crimes”. Moreover, the judges and lawyers working with the ICC have all been “blacklisted” by the USA and are prevented from any banking transactions even within the EU, and are probably prevented from flying as well. This evil behaviour from Trump and his Nazi entourage has turned the USA into a rogue state. We all remember how Trump admired North Korea and other brutal dictatorships, yet the idiot Yankees still voted for him.
The USA does not have jurisdiction in any other country, and has no business invading any other country. This is a military action, illegal, and destabilizing for the entire world — which was already in a mess. Basically, little Hitler-Trump wants to control the world and destroy all international law and the United Nations. May he, and you, rot in Hell.
Mitsotakis and his fellow clowns are a bad joke. They have badly damaged Greece and now want to destroy Cyprus. Greeks need to kick them out of office, and preferably out of Greece.