Old video of Greek protests shared with claims country is 'paralysed'
Footage circulating claiming widespread disruption in Greece shows a demonstration from February 2025, not current protests.
A video of a protest in Thessaloniki, Greece, has been circulated online, purportedly indicating that the nation has been brought to a halt. However, the footage dates back to over a year prior to the posts, with the demonstration occurring in February 2025. This was during a significant anniversary of the Tempi rail disaster, which had occurred in February 2023, resulting in the deaths of 57 people. The disaster sparked widespread outrage and calls for improved railway safety across the country.
On the anniversary of the disaster, several protests took place, with hundreds of thousands gathering in more than 300 cities and towns, both within Greece and abroad. They demanded justice for the victims of the 2023 tragedy. Despite the widespread claims of a country-wide halt, the video does not suggest any such occurrence in September 2026.
Instead, this year, thousands of people demonstrated in Thessaloniki due to a cost-of-living crisis, demanding action on wages and pensions, coinciding with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' annual economic speech. This event, separate from the initial video, saw over 25,000 protesters.
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