ANPOpgestapte minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 16:48
Greek Shipping Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis has resigned in the wake of the death of a ferry passenger. The man died last week after falling from the ship during a struggle with crew members. Varvitsiotis came under fire after expressing sympathy for the crew.
Video footage of the incident can be seen on social media. The 36-year-old passenger then tries to run onto the ship several times, just as the ferry leaves the port of Piraeus for the island of Crete. The crew pushes him back repeatedly, after which he falls into the swirling water. No attempts are then made to save the man.
Varvitsiotis said Wednesday that the man was in possession of a ticket. He had boarded the ferry earlier, but for unknown reasons he also got off the ferry again, after which he returned too late.
‘Misinterpreted’
Political opponents accuse the minister of downplaying the situation. According to the BBC he said on Greek television that in addition to mourning for the man, “there are also people mourning for the people who wanted to earn their wages and are now accused of murder.”
Varvitsiotis later apologized for this statement. According to him, the comment was misinterpreted. “I have become the target of an attack that is becoming increasingly poisonous,” the minister wrote announcing his resignation from X.
Manslaughter charge
Charges have been filed against the ferry’s captain and three crew members. One of the crew members is charged with manslaughter. The captain allegedly did not comply with shipping rules.
The man’s death sparked outrage and protests in Greece. For example, crew members from various ferry services went on strike for better safety on board and better working conditions.
2023-09-11 14:48:57
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