The “rabbit-head” as a political tool: when the opposition fishes for votes with fake news and panic.
At a time when the “Mamtani syndrome” is running rampant—regarding the social groups to which the opposition promises free public transportation, appears to be retreating, battered by its head-on collision with reality, just as the mayor of New York did; another symptom seems to have emerged.
This time, it comes from the Mediterranean Sea as a result of the climate crisis and crashes onto the shores of the Greek political scene, as a result of the drought in opposition rhetoric strategies: it is the so-called “rabbit-head syndrome.”
Which shares a very common characteristic with one of the fundamental traits of political and social media discourse in Greece and beyond, at least according to experts: it is toxic, but only when consumed by irresponsible users…
It could be a scene from the well-known third- and fourth-rate summer revues of the Delphinarium, if it weren’t one of the most serious symptoms of the disease that has spread throughout the political scenes of Europe and beyond, where populism goes hand in hand with fake news and fabricated “realities,” are directly undermining not only the media but democracy itself.
A prime example is the recent public statement by SYRIZA MP, Giorgos Karameros, who sharply criticized the government, linking the spread of the toxic fish to a lack of government planning.
He noted that the leadership of the Ministry of Rural Development has been notably slow to implement effective measures to control the species, leaving the marine environment unprotected.
This simple line of reasoning—however superficial it may be, and regardless of the ironic and humorous comments it provoked at the expense of the member of parliament and his previous (journalistic) role— is just as serious and indicative of the level of political debate we will… “enjoy” during the long and undeclared (for now) election campaign into which we have now fully entered.
Here is a very small but extremely telling example:
Four or five days ago, a “news story” circulated claiming that a rabbit-headed creature had attacked a swimmer in Varkiza and caused her serious injuries. The “news story” became almost the top story, complete with numerous medical details—even specifying the number of stitches “the unfortunate woman received.” Shortly thereafter, the Municipality of 3B (Vari, Voula, Vouliagmeni) denied the report.
In an official statement, it referred to “baseless and unverified information” and called on citizens to remain calm and to carefully filter what they read online. Nevertheless, the municipality’s denial was “reported” on nearly all websites that have rallied to support the opposition, and in particular the ELAS movement led by Alexis Tsipras—as “Mystery Surrounding an Attack by a ‘Rabbit-Headed’ Assailant in Varkiza Despite the Municipality’s Denial.”
In the wake of Karameros’s remarks, a social media frenzy ensued, even from accounts known for their attacks on the government and, personally, on Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Users of X and commentators mocked the ease with which the opposition—and the MP himself—now calls for elections or ministerial resignations over any issue “even over the migration of a fish through the Suez Canal.”
“Let the government fall so that the sand eels and the gobies can be vindicated” or “After the locusts, the Mitsotakis government is also to blame for the DNA of the rabbit-headed fish,” were some of the characteristic comments.
Much of the irony stemmed from the fact that the MP’s political “outcry” coincided with the official announcement by ELKETHE (Hellenic Center for Marine Research).
The scientists explicitly called on citizens and the media to “remain calm and not panic,” making it clear that reports of attacks circulating on social media are exaggerated or unfounded.
The Ministry of Rural Development is considering a pilot program to offer a “bounty” for the rabbitfish.
According to reports, the initiative will include financial compensation for professional fishermen for the targeted eradication of this toxic fish, while at the same time ELKETHE is raising awareness, reminding the public that consuming it is strictly prohibited as it contains a deadly toxin.
According to information from the Athens News Agency, the solution to the problem will be based on a range of measures, including scientific monitoring of the phenomenon, identifying areas where the species congregates and reproduces, collaboration with research institutions, the use of digital tools, and the establishment of procedures for the safe handling of caught fish.
