Election campaign in Greece suspended due to the deaths of dozens of migrants at sea

Election campaigning in Greece “took a break” after a shipwreck off the southern peninsula of the Peloponnese. 79 bodies of migrants found, death toll expected to rise – hundreds of migrants have gone missing after an overcrowded boat capsized.

How informs Politico, the tragic incident with the Italian-bound overloaded by boat became one of the deadliest shipwrecks in Greek waters.

All political parties sent their representatives to the region where the migrants were rescued. With only 11 days left before the country’s elections, the parties issued separate statements that their campaign meetings and speeches would be suspended.

Currently, the newspaper notes, Greece is headed by an interim government, on the eve of national elections to be held on June 25. Interim Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas announced three days of national mourning, which will last until midnight Friday. The election campaign, as well as political debates scheduled for tomorrow, are postponed.

Greece is one of the main routes to the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Most ferry to the Greek islands from neighboring Turkey, but a growing number of boats are also making the longer and more dangerous journey from Turkey to Italy via Greece. The number of deaths on the way to Europe from northern Africa and the Middle East for 2022 is estimated at about 3,800 people. This is the highest number since 2017.

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