Christos Stylianides named Greece’s new Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister

Following the resignation of Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Christos Stylianides, a politician with both Greek and Cypriot nationality, has been appointed Greece’s new Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy.

Stylianides is a former Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece. Previously also serving as the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Stylianides has also been a Member of the European Parliament and a Member of Parliament in Cyprus, as well as a Government Spokesman under both President Glafcos Clerides and President Nicos Anastasiades.

Varvitsiotis submitted his resignation on Monday following a controversy over his comments about the 5 September death of a 36-year-old man who had fallen into the sea after being pushed back by crew members of a ship he was trying to board.

Varvitsiotis announced his resignation on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on 11 September.

As reported by Reuters, video footage released on social media after the incident showed crew members appearing to argue with the man on the stern ramp just as the ferry was leaving the port of Piraeus for the island of Crete.

Varvitsiotis said last week that the man, who had bought a ticket, had boarded the ship before disembarking for unknown reasons and then tried to board again, which was when he was pushed back and fell into the sea just as the ship departed.

The man's death sparked outrage and protests in Greece and Varvitsiotis faced a backlash for appearing to sympathize with the crew members on Greek television. Varvitsiotis, who later apologised, said his comments had been misinterpreted, Reuters also reported.

"I have become the target of an attack that is becoming more and more toxic," he posted as he announced his resignation. "In no way did I equate the victim with the perpetrators. In no way did I wash away the responsibilities that the ship-owning company has, which it still refuses to assume."