Varoufakis sues German state for banning his entry

Greece’s former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has moved to sue the German government for banning his entry and engaging in political activities in the country.

The legal action, announced by Mr. Varoufakis’ political movement MeRA25, underscores a broader concern about civil liberties in Europe.

Legal aides to the former

minister say the ban is a “flagrant breach of both German and European Union laws, particularly those safeguarding freedom of speech and movement.”

The dispute stems from an incident last April when German authorities prohibited Mr. Varoufakis from participating in a conference on Palestine. The event, co-organized by MeRA25 Germany, the Jewish Voice for Peace, and other groups, aimed to foster dialogue on securing equal political rights in the region.

German authorities have cited national security reasons for the ban but have refused to disclose any further details.

Mr. Varoufakis’ lawsuit is seen as a test case for the protection of political freedoms in the EU. It challenges the German state’s stance on security and its implications for personal liberties, setting a precedent for European citizens’ rights to political participation and free movement.

MeRA25 has called for public support against the misuse of national security as a pretext to erode fundamental rights, emphasizing that the real threat to citizen safety lies in the loss of these liberties.

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