Greek politician and former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been charged with “promoting and advertising drugs” after admitting to using ecstasy once 36 years ago. The charge stems from a podcast appearance where he spoke candidly about his past experience, sparking concerns that the justice system is targeting those who speak out against authority. Varoufakis’ party, MeRA25, claims the prosecution is part of a larger effort by the governing New Democracy party to silence dissent and manipulate the justice system. The trial is set for December, with Varoufakis facing potential consequences for his comments that highlighted the risks of addiction and the importance of protecting individual freedoms.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/25/world/europe/greek-politician-drug-charge.html