However, shortly afterwards, the atmosphere began to change when the girl addressed the Prime Minister, saying, "Excuse me, do we not have democracy here?" to which he responded sternly, "Look here, madam, if you want to come and make a fuss, it's your right. But I also have the right to speak to those who want to listen to me. Democracy is one thing, but it's not a free-for-all." This remark received applause from the crowd.
At the same time, the Prime Minister's security forcefully removed the students, as they alleged, while the police detained three students - two male and one female, at Corfu Police Station, where they were later released after identification.
Storm of reactions
The incident was caught on camera, provoking furious reactions. In a post, Nikos Plakias called on the Prime Minister to take an immediate stance, stating that it is unacceptable for his personal security to treat a girl who lost her twin sisters and cousin due to state negligence in this manner. "Today, the Prime Minister was in Corfu for his election campaign. My daughter happens to study in Corfu.
"Along with her friends, with no intention whatsoever to provoke anyone (what could 7 students, 4 boys and 3 girls, possibly provoke amidst dozens of security guards, OPKE units, and police officers), they went to listen to the Prime Minister and, if possible, my daughter wanted to ask a question like everyone else present. Of course, he neither responded nor paid any attention.
"However, as soon as they saw the shirts the youngsters were wearing, they violently removed them, led by the man in the photo who violently dragged and harassed the students, driving them away in a very harsh manner and using physical and verbal violence against them as you can see in the photos below. Mr. Prime Minister, I would like you to take a stand immediately and bring these individuals to where they belong. It is unacceptable to speak about democracy and claim to abhor violence, fascism, and thuggery while having the worst of the kind in your security."
SYRIZA MP: "Shame"
In a statement regarding the incident, the SYRIZA Justice Representative and Corfu MP, Alexandros Avlonitis, said: "Here in Corfu, Mr. Mitsotakis, we do not engage in thuggery like your security did today.
"The girl who tried to speak to you at your rally in Corfu lost her twin sisters in the Tempi Crime. She is the third daughter of Nikos Plakias, if you remember his name. By what right did you tolerate the brutal treatment of this girl, causing scratches on her neck, by the 'brave' and tough men of your security?
"She asked for justice. And she had the right to do so at a public rally you organised in Corfu. She did not come to cause trouble. And if she shouted, imagine yourself in her place, having lost two sisters in the Tempi Crime, which you and your associates have done everything to cover up, pretending, as you told her, that you trust in Justice.
"Which justice do you trust? The one of the Parliamentary Investigative Committee? The rejection of SYRIZA's proposal for a pre-investigative committee against your minister Karamanlis following the request of the European Prosecutor? What justice are you talking about? The covering up of the crime scene, the editing of the stationmaster's conversations? What justice are you talking about? The one where a victim's bone was found in a field where the soil from the crime scene was dumped? Shame."
Corfu Communist Youth (KNE): Silencing the victims' relatives
The Corfu Branch of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) also issued a statement about the incident, condemning the unacceptable and violent removal of three young people who protested during the Prime Minister's speech in Corfu about the Tempi crime.
"The behaviour of the Prime Minister's security exposes the government and the Prime Minister himself, especially since among the protesting youths were the sister and cousin of three young victims who unjustly lost their lives.
"The three detained individuals faced provocative, thuggish, and mocking behaviour from the police and the Prime Minister's security.
"The government's guilty silence and the silencing of the victims' relatives provoke anger in every young person who joined the massive protests over the past year to ensure that the premeditated crime of Tempi is not covered up.
"The voices of young people demanding justice for the victims, punishment for the perpetrators, and condemnation of the profit-driven policies that threaten our lives cannot be suppressed or silenced."
