Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, has condemned his prosecution for allegedly promoting drug use after admitting to taking ecstasy nearly 40 years ago. The 64-year-old economist described the charge as 'ridiculous' and indicative of a far-right shift in Western politics.
Varoufakis was charged on Wednesday with 'inciting others in the illegal use of narcotics' following his candid remarks on a podcast in January. If convicted, he faces at least six months in prison and a fine of up to €50,000. A court hearing is set for December.
In a post on X, Varoufakis linked his prosecution to the appointment of 'neo-fascists' to senior roles in Greece's centre-right government. He accused Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of making a deal with the far-right to prevent them from forming their own party, allowing them to use their positions to target left-wing figures.
Varoufakis, whose small party MeRA25 narrowly missed entering parliament in 2023, remains popular among young voters. On the podcast, he recalled taking ecstasy at a Kylie Minogue concert in Sydney in 1989, describing it as an 'amazing experience' followed by a severe migraine. He also admitted to occasionally using cannabis.
Drug abuse expert Charalampos Poulopoulos called the prosecution surprising and said it neither serves the common good nor public interest. He noted that other Greek public figures, including former Athens mayor Kostas Bakoyannis, have spoken about drug use without facing charges. Poulopoulos argued that Varoufakis's comments were a constitutionally protected expression of opinion.
