Greek Member of the European Parliament Afroditi Latinopoulou reported being subjected to a prolonged verbal attack by a Roma group at Tinos port. Speaking on the Greek television channel MEGA on Wednesday morning, Latinopoulou said the confrontation lasted 45 minutes and left her mother terrified.
Latinopoulou, who serves as president of the Voice of Reason political party, said the incident occurred on Sunday while she and her mother were at the ferry terminal following a religious pilgrimage. She stated that between 15 and 20 people initially launched an aggressive verbal assault against her, accompanied by continuous threats.
Voice of Reason is a right-wing Greek political party that gained representation in the European Parliament in 2024. Tinos, an island located in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea, is famous across Greece as a major site for Orthodox Christian pilgrimage centered on the Church of Panagia Evangelistria.
Origin of the port confrontation
According to Latinopoulou, the incident began when a man approached her at the port to speak in a calm manner. Members of the group expressed anger over previous public statements she had made regarding Roma people, which they viewed as derogatory.
During the exchange, one man told her that not all Roma individuals shared the same characteristics or behavior. Latinopoulou said she answered by stating that her previous comments did not apply to all Roma people, but were directed at those involved in illegal activity. She cited instances of theft and electricity theft as examples of delinquency.
Escalation and verbal insults
Latinopoulou said the discussion quickly broke down because the group was unwilling to hold a peaceful dialogue. She noted that members of the crowd began shouting heavy verbal insults in front of their own children.
One individual directly challenged her regarding how she referred to Roma people before directing explicit profanities at her. Latinopoulou stated that she remained in position without responding to the specific curses, held her bag tightly, and told the group that they were all the same.
She further claimed that between 25 and 30 people eventually surrounded them at the port. Latinopoulou alleged that one man attempted to strike her, grabbed her hand, and told her to stop speaking.
Mother reaction and political criticism
Latinopoulou highlighted the impact of the confrontation on her mother, who was present throughout the entire episode. She explained that her mother is not a political figure and became frightened and terrified after seeing dozens of hostile individuals approach them.
The European lawmaker argued that such abusive behavior should not be tolerated against any citizen attempting to board a ferry, regardless of political standing. She condemned what she described as total silence from left-wing groups, women rights advocates, and major political parties following the attack.
Latinopoulou concluded by calling for unanimous condemnation of the event, asserting that political opponents were failing to protect women and insisting that there can be no equivalence drawn between a victim and a perpetrator.
