 In the coalition cabinet of Antonis Samaras, formed after the June 2012 elections, he has first held the post of Minister for Public Order and Citizen Protection (21 June 2012 – 10 June 2014).During his time in office, he was confronted with increasing political and anti-immigrant violence.His agency was the subject of criticism over refusing asylum to Syrian refugees and detaining other migrants that flock to its borders under “unacceptable” conditions.