ΜέΡΑ25 / Méto̱po Ev̱ropaïkí̱s Realistikí̱s Anypakoí̱s (MeRA25)

EU RANK: 117 (Tier 3: Moderate Performance)

MeRA25, founded by Yanis Varoufakis, is a left‑wing, pro‑transparency and anti‑austerity party advocating debt restructuring, radical green investment, and deep democratisation of EU governance rather than exit from the euro. It has a small but vocal parliamentary presence and positions itself as a principled, anti‑establishment alternative to both mainstream parties and traditional radical left.​

Disinformation and alternative media

MeRA25 relies heavily on social media, YouTube channels and sympathetic alternative outlets that highlight its anti‑austerity and pro‑transparency message, alongside appearances in mainstream TV debates. Monitoring of Greek media shows the party sometimes accused by opponents of exaggerating fiscal dangers or EU conspiracies, but systematic, large‑scale disinformation operations comparable to far‑right actors are not documented. Fact‑checking disputes tend to concern framing and prediction rather than fabricated stories. Disinformation/alternative media DMI risk is moderate.

Foreign influence and external alignments

The party is critical of current EU economic governance and of NATO interventions, but remains broadly pro‑European and supports human‑rights‑based multilateralism. Litigation and funding records for 2015–2025 show no evidence of hostile‑state funding or organised foreign control; MeRA25’s international links focus on left‑green movements and civil‑society networks. Its critique of Western policy sometimes overlaps rhetorically with narratives promoted by Russia or other powers, but without documented financial or organisational dependence. Foreign influence DMI risk is moderate.

Media capture, advertising and public service media

As a small party with no experience in leading government, MeRA25 has limited leverage over ERT or major private broadcasters. It does not own significant media outlets and uses modest campaign advertising, focusing instead on online communication and public events. There is no indication of attempts to steer state advertising or appointments in a way that would amount to media capture. Media capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is low.

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

Court and investigative material from 2015–2025 mention MeRA25 mainly in relation to constitutional or policy challenges (e.g. against surveillance or austerity laws), not corruption cases. No major scandals involving illicit party financing, procurement fraud or clientelist networks are recorded for the party or its central leadership. Funding derives from public subsidies, membership fees and small donations within Greece’s disclosure framework. DMI corruption and institutional integrity risk is low.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

MeRA25 strongly champions civil liberties, opposes SLAPPs, and criticises surveillance or concentration of media ownership, often aligning with journalism and human‑rights organisations. While its leaders sharply attack oligarch‑owned outlets and accuse them of bias, there is no pattern of encouraging harassment of journalists or using lawsuits to intimidate critics. The party advocates stronger protections for whistle‑blowers and investigative reporting. Press freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Moderate	Heavy reliance on alternative and social media; accused of dramatic framings but no evidence of large‑scale fabricated‑news operations.
Foreign influence & external alignments	Moderate	Strongly critical of EU/NATO policy yet pro‑European; no hostile‑state funding shown, but some narratives overlap with non‑Western critiques.
Media capture & advertising / PSB control	Low	Small party without structural control over ERT or big private media; limited advertising and no capture attempts recorded.
Corruption & institutional integrity risk	Low	No major corruption or illicit‑funding cases; finances based on public subsidies and small donations under Greek rules.
Press freedom & harassment of media	Low	Strong rhetorical support for press freedom and whistle‑blower protection; no pattern of harassment or punitive lawsuits against journalists.