– Greece’s problem today is not German reparations, but the climate crisis, digital attacks, problems related to attracting good investments to Europe so as not to lose our production base – said government spokesman Akis Skercos last weekend, when asked at one of the meetings whether Greece intends to follow Poland’s example and resolutely submit demands for reparations to the German government.

“The German side will certainly want to use this statement in its argument,” said one of the leaders of the Greek Committee for German Reparations, an organization which was one of the first to react strongly to Skercos’ words.

Protest by all political forces

The spokesperson’s words became the target of opposition politicians’ criticism of the government. Not only Syriza and PASOK, the main opposition parties, are protesting, but also smaller groups, including outside parliament.

“It is unacceptable and ahistorical for representatives of the government to discredit Greece’s ancient struggle for German reparation as a secondary and outdated issue,” said Syriza, the opposition party of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, in a statement. “With each passing day, it becomes clearer how much the retention of power by the Kyriakos Micotakis government is damaging to national interests,” the party added.

“Demand for reparations as an eternal national demand”

A representative of the centre-left PASOK party stated that “demanding compensation for Nazi atrocities is an enduring national demand.” “We have an obligation to fight by all political and legal means to finally fulfill this request, with respect and historical awareness on the part of the German government,” stressed the politician.

After a wave of criticism, Skercos withdrew from his words. – The government’s position on war reparations and occupation loans was clear and expressed in the last meeting between the Prime Minister and German Chancellor Scholz. This remains an open question, especially sit-in loans, the spokesperson said.

“We look forward to discussions and resolutions with the German government, recognizing the difficulties and unresolved legal issues. The fact that we have not found a solution does not overshadow Greco-German relations and prospects, Skercos added.

€269.5 billion in claims

Until the statement by a government spokesman, the issue of demanding reparations from Germany had not been a top topic of the campaign ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

According to a report published in 2017 by the Greek Parliamentary Inter-Party Commission for the Enforcement of German Receivables, the government in Athens had to demand EUR 269.5 billion from the German government in compensation for losses incurred during World War II.

According to the survey, more than 90% of the Greek public supports demanding reparations from Germany in relation to the losses suffered during World War II.

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