A key figure in Karystianou’s party is lawyer Maria Gratsia, originally from Naxos, who is widely regarded as a trusted associate of Maria Karystianou. Well known in church circles for handling legal matters of ecclesiastical interest, Grassia had previously ventured into politics in 2023 as a candidate for the Niki party in Athens.

Gratsia never formally left Niki, simply because she was never an organic member of the party. In her professional capacity as a lawyer, she took part in an informal Legal Support Group, where she is believed to have developed a political relationship with Georgios (Giorgos) Apostolakis, former Vice President of the Supreme Court. Apostolakis later headed Niki’s national party list, was elected to parliament, and resigned in December 2024 following a serious conflict with party leader Dimitris Natsios.

The Apostolakis Blog

Today, Apostolakis expresses his views through the blog “Next Day,” where he publishes commentary that appears to point toward the idea of a potential “Karystianou party.” On January 7, he wrote, among other things:

“The Tempi crime, two years after the tragedy, in 2025 turned from an open wound into a political and moral milestone. The mass mobilisations, the persistence of the victims’ families, and the public presence of Maria Karystianou highlighted something the political system had underestimated: society has not accepted oblivion as a solution. The demand is not partisan. It is not ideological. It is elementary: justice, truth, accountability, catharsis. And that is precisely why it unsettled me—because it exposed the gap between social ethics and political practice.”

Coincidentally, just hours after Apostolakis’s post, Maria Karystianou gave an interview to Kontra Channel, in which she effectively confirmed that she intends to form a political party.

Family Links and the Tempi Investigation

Giorgos Apostolakis is the brother of Sofia Apostolaki, a former prosecutor of the Larissa Court of Appeal, whose name entered public discussion after a tragic case that shocked Greece in early 2025, when her son Vassilis went missing. His body was found 50 days later, and forensic examinations showed no DNA from any third party.

One month later, Maria Gratsia accompanied Maria Karystianou to Larissa in her capacity as legal counsel to meet Prosecutor Apostolakis, requesting that additional investigators be appointed to the Tempi case. This move was also seen as highlighting opposition to the actions of appellate investigator Sotiris Bakaimis, who had already dismissed—based on the evidence—the theory that the freight train crew had been assaulted.

Less than a year later, many in Larissa speculate that the retired judge could even become a candidate with a potential “Karystianou party.”

Grasia’s Political Track Record

In the May 2023 elections, Maria Grassia was initially elected as an MP in Athens A with Niki, but only briefly, as the seat ultimately went to Andreas Voryllas in Athens B (West Sector) after the distribution of mandates. The same outcome followed in the second election later that year.

A consistent theme in Gratsia’s public positions has been her emphasis on the rule of law. In a pre-election article, she wrote:

“The time has come for cleansing, consolidation, and fundamental reconstruction on solid foundations.”

This platform now appears to resonate with the political message emerging around Maria Karystianou.

Gratsia is also reported to have previously provided legal advice to Zoe Konstantopoulou, President of the Association of Relatives of the Victims of Tempi 2023 and leader of the Course of Freedom (Plefsi Eleftherias) party—one of the parties believed to be electorally affected by the possible creation of a “Karystianou party.”

Reactions Within the Victims’ Association

Zoe Konstantopoulou herself has not publicly reacted so far. However, Panos Rouhiotis, whose child was lost in the Tempi disaster and who had been Konstantopoulou’s client, stated after a series of wavering and ambiguous remarks that Karystianou should be fighting for justice, not forming a party, and called on her to resign as president of the Association of Victims’ Relatives.
Karystianou responded by asking the Association’s Board to send her a formal email requesting her resignation.

Independent MPs and Political Scenarios

Maria Gratsia also represented Nikos Papadopoulos, a cardiothoracic surgeon from Thessaloniki and former Niki MP, in the high-profile National Gallery case, after Papadopoulos stormed the exhibition space, smashing display cases and damaging exhibits he considered blasphemous.

This professional relationship has fueled speculation that Papadopoulos may align himself with a potential “Karystianou party.” Speaking to Proto Thema, Papadopoulos appeared open to the idea, confirming that a meeting with Karystianou is expected—provided that the new political formation aligns with his principles and values, particularly in light of what he describes as his traumatic experience within Niki.

On the other hand, independent MP Nikos Vrettos, also elected with Niki, told Proto Thema that there has been no contact so far with Karystianou, adding that if any cooperation were to be proposed, he would assess it at the time and within whatever framework might be established.

According to information, no contact has yet occurred between Maria Karystianou and independent MP Marios Salmas, who was elected with New Democracy (ND), despite circulating rumors. The former minister reportedly believes that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis still has sufficient time to change course, and that if such a shift benefits the majority of citizens, it would also fulfill his own political objectives.