Maria Karystianou presented the political program for her Hope for Democracy movement at the Thessaloniki International Fair on Thursday.
Speaking in a packed hall at Pavilion 8, Karystianou declared that purification and political accountability formed the central message of her movement's platform.
Karystianou entered the venue to Queen's song I Want It All before opening her address with a reference to the Tempi train accident. Visibly moved, she told attendees that the tragedy had haunted the whole of society and said the nation's deepest pain had been transformed into hope.
Karystianou became a prominent national figure following the February 2023 Tempi railway collision in central Greece, which killed 57 people. Her 20-year-old daughter was among the victims, leading Karystianou to head an association of victims' families advocating for justice and corporate accountability before establishing the Hope for Democracy movement.
Constitutional Reform and Defense Strategy
Justice reform forms the central pillar of the movement's policy platform, anchored by a proposal to completely abolish Article 86 of the Greek Constitution. The constitutional provision currently grants Parliament sole authority over the criminal prosecution of sitting and former cabinet ministers.
On foreign policy and defense matters, the platform outlines a new national security strategy. Karystianou stated that Greece must adopt a doctrine of active deterrence and retaliation rather than relying on passive defense.
The presentation took place at the annual Thessaloniki International Fair, Greece's major political and trade event held every September in the northern port city, where political leaders traditionally set out their national priorities.
Demographic Priorities and Social Policies
Addressing social issues, Karystianou described the declining national birth rate as the most serious long-term challenge facing Greece and declared demographic recovery a top national priority. Her program promises economic and tax incentives for families, targeted housing policies for young people and large families, and expanded support for mothers.
Regarding immigration, Karystianou advocated a strict but fair policy focused on absolute border control. She called for a clear distinction between legal and illegal entry, adding that standard legal procedures must be applied strictly to individuals who do not qualify to remain in the country.
Reconstruction of the primary economic sector also features prominently in the program. Hope for Democracy proposes creating a National Council for the Primary Sector to combat market cartels, support cooperative agricultural ventures, and improve connections between local production and consumer markets.
Energy Market and Financial Plans
To address rising energy costs, the movement proposes a mixed market model designed to limit exposure to international price fluctuations. Karystianou stated that all proposals in the program are fully costed and linked to measures for saving state resources and combating corruption.
