IMMIGRATION TO GREECE (MARCH 2010)

Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS)
Newsletter on Immigration to Greece
Editor: Ioannis Kolovos

The new Citizenship Bill becomes Law
On March 11th, the Bill which offered citizenship and voting rights in local elections to legalized immigrants and their children became Law. In favor of the Bill voted all center-left PASOK MPs and all left-wing SYRIZA MPs. The Communist KKE stood on the fence voting “present” while all center-right ND and all radical right LAOS MPs voted against the Bill.

The full text of the Parliamentary minutes of the debate on the Bill can be found here (in Greek only):

Minutes of the debate on March 9th

Minutes of the debate on March 10th

Minutes of the debate on March 11th

Immigrants cannot counterbalance Greece’s ageing population
A new study by the Center of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) argues that even the increased influx of immigrants cannot counterbalance Greece’s demographic decline. Moreover, KEPE admits that there are limits in the country’s absorption capacity for immigrants.

A relevant article (Eleftherotypia, 11/3/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)

Cabinet’s no. 2 claims that those against the Citizenship Bill are “complete idiots” and “should be locked in an asylum”
Cabinet’s vice president Mr Theodore Pangalos argued that those PASOK members in Thessaloniki who disagreed with the Citizenship Bill and voiced their concerns are “complete idiots” and “should be locked in an asylum”.

It should be noted that the original press release containing Mr Pangalos’ remarks has been withdrawn from the PASOK website. The full transcript can still be found in the Athens News Agency website (in Greek only)

The views expressed by the PASOK local branch in Thessaloniki regarding the Citizenship Bill can be read here (in Greek only)

A portrait of the Albanian mafia in Greece
According to a confidential Police report 42 criminal organizations from Albania operate in Greece. About 3,000 Albanian criminals are active in the transportation and distribution of cannabis and heroin, while 2,500 Albanians are arrested each year in Greece for robberies, thefts and burglaries

A relevant article (To Vima, 20/3/2010) can be found here (in Greek only)

Minister of Interior: No mass legalizations can take place
The Minister of Interior Mr Yiannis Ragoussis argued that no mass legalizations of illegal immigrants can take place any more. Moreover, he claimed that the Citizenship Bill has promoted Greece’s social peace.

The relevant part of Mr Ragoussis’ interview (To Vima, 21/3/2010) can be read here (in Greek only)

3,000 rifles at the hands of Albanians
According to an article which appeared in the newspaper “Proto Thema” on March 21st, sources from the Ministry for Citizen’s Protection estimate that 3,000 Albanians who live in Greece own AK-47 rifles and unknown quantities of ammunition. It should be noted that the majority of those Albanians reside in Greece legally.

A reproduction of the “Proto Thema” article can be found here (in Greek only)