BOSTON – Greece’s Minister of Interior Niki Kerameus visited Boston in order to inform the Greek-American community of Massachusetts about the new postal voting process for Hellenes abroad at an event held at the Consulate General of Greece in Boston.

Kerameus, in the presence of a large number of expatriates, provided complete and thorough information, addressing both theoretical and practical issues regarding postal voting for Greek citizens in the upcoming European Parliament elections.

The Minister of Interior emphasized that this is a “historic event,” as this opportunity will be given to expatriates for the first time. She urged all expatriates who are not registered on the special electoral rolls to do so immediately through the relevant platform, which operates 24 hours a day.

Furthermore, Kerameus highlighted that for further inquiries, interested parties can contact the specialized online service of the Ministry of Interior, as well as the Consul General of Greece in Boston, Symeon Tegos.

In statements to The National Herald, the Minister declared, “I am very moved to be in Boston, and indeed, I have very nice memories from Boston and the university, but if you want, I am also very determined for this goal that we have set. It is an awareness campaign throughout the United States of America and Canada about these new possibilities that are now provided in the Greek institutional framework regarding the exercise of the right to vote.”

The Minister also said, “we have seen thousands of Greeks expatriates, I mean in the United States and Canada. I was in Canada with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Prime Minister Trudeau, and together we participated in informative events for Greeks living in Canada to inform them about two things: First, that there are no longer restrictions on exercising the right to vote, meaning you no longer need to prove that you have stayed in Greece for two years as was the case in the past or that you have submitted a tax return. The second change is that postal voting [has been implemented] for the first time in the country’s history. Greek citizens wherever they live abroad can now exercise their right through postal voting” in the European elections. It is hoped that in the future that will be possible in national elections as well.

Kerameus thanked the expatriates for their presence, participating in a ceremony in Boston marking the 203rd anniversary of the national rebirth, during which the Minister of Interior praised the Greek-American community and thanked its members for what they do for Mother Greece.

Before her speech, the Minister met with past Governor of Massachusetts and former U.S. presidential candidate Michael Dukakis at the Consulate General. Also present were Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, with whom Kerameus had a special conversation, SYRIZA Member of Parliament, physician and professor Dr. Othon Iliopoulos, university professors, clergymen, the president of the Federation of Greek-American Societies of New England, Vasilis Kafkas, and members of the council, the president of the local Pan-Icarian association James Mattheos, and representatives of church communities.

The children of the Greek school of the community of St. Nectarios of Roslindale-Boston chanted the National Anthem, to the delight of those present.

A reception followed during which the Minister conversed with the guests and answered their further questions.

During her stay in Boston, she visited Harvard University, where she studied, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Fletcher School of Tufts University.