Greece’s judicial system ranks as the slowest in the EU, with civil and commercial cases taking over three years to resolve, according to a new IMF report. The delays are seen as a major barrier to economic growth and legal certainty, prompting calls for urgent reforms including specialized courts, digitization, and streamlined procedures.
Tag: Rule of Law
A low-intensity explosion shook an apartment building in Athens’ Petrálona district at 3:00 AM Wednesday, targeting the residence of New Democracy MP Máximos Charakópoulos. The improvised device, involving a gas canister, caused minor damage but no injuries. Charakópoulos, a Lárisa representative, condemned the “cowardly” act, linking it to societal tensions and warning against a “new wave of terrorism.” The government and New Democracy denounced the attack, vowing justice as police investigate.
At the 13th Regional Growth Conference in Patras, Chinese Ambassador to Greece Fang Qiu called for deeper economic ties between China and Greece, highlighting increased agricultural exports and tourism as key areas for collaboration. Emphasizing the success of the Piraeus Port partnership, he urged both nations to act as voices of reason and cooperation in global affairs, while reaffirming China’s openness to trade and investment.
The European Parliament has halted Turkey’s EU membership bid, citing a deepening democratic crisis and violations of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty. The report, adopted on May 7, 2025, condemns Turkey’s judicial interference, the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, and ongoing threats like the “Blue Homeland” doctrine. While praising Turkey’s refugee efforts, the EP urges respect for international law and a shift toward a strategic EU partnership.
Jailed İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has sued İstanbul University over its recent revocation of his 31‑year‑old diploma, alleging the move was politically motivated and legally baseless—a decision that now bars him from the upcoming presidential race.
Athens Mayor Haris Doukas will travel to Ankara on April 5 to meet with Turkey’s Republican Party leadership, advocating for the release of imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. As the sole Greek representative in a European socialist delegation, Doukas will also attend the party’s congress on April 6, underscoring the vital role of democracy and the rule of law in this high-profile case.
The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has triggered strong reactions from foreign governments, with Germany calling it a “serious setback” for Turkish democracy and France expressing deep concern over its potential consequences. Amid allegations of fraud and bribery, the detention of the prominent opposition figure, seen as a key rival to President Erdogan, has intensified political tensions in Turkey.
A Metron Analysis survey, presented at the Circle of Ideas conference, reveals deep concerns among Greeks about the economy (63%) and rule of law (46%), with democracy rated a mere 4.1 out of 10. Amid pessimism and anger, citizens see Turkey (52%) and Trump (31%) as key threats, favor EU autonomy (63%), and signal a crisis of trust in politics, with calls for judicial reform and coalition governance growing louder.
Radical changes are expected in the Greek government lineup following the no-confidence motion debate, with at least 10 deputy ministers set to be removed and key figures like Adonis Georgiadis and Kostis Hatzidakis shifting roles. Meanwhile, the government demands the expulsion of SYRIZA MP Andreas Panagiotopoulos for his inflammatory remarks against Prime Minister Mitsotakis and PASOK leader Androulakis, accusing him of fostering toxicity and undermining democracy.
The progressive opposition parties will table a motion of no-confidence today against the centre-right New Democracy party amid accusations of alleged efforts to protect politicians responsible for a deadly train accident that killed 57 people, mainly young
The Greek Parliament has voted to launch a preliminary investigation into former Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Triantopoulos, over possible offences related to the deadly Tempi train crash. The motion passed with 277 votes, prompting Triantopoulos to resign, stating that “politics is not a profession for me.” His resignation follows that of Civil Protection Secretary General Vassilis Papageorgiou. Opposition parties, including PASOK and SYRIZA, agreed on the scope of the inquiry, which also touches on broader governance issues such as inflation and the rule of law.
The majority of Greeks do not trust the justice system according to a recent poll…
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reiterated his government’s commitment to judicial reform, highlighting 30 institutional changes implemented since 2019. Mitsotakis identified slow court proceedings, limited digitalization, and the need for infrastructure and training improvements as key challenges. He emphasized that the reforms aim to address systemic issues, not judicial competence.
President Katerina Sakellaropoulou received the “Democracy Award of the City of Athens” from Mayor Haris Doukas during the Athens Democracy Forum. The award honours the struggle of Greek citizens for democracy, which led to the fall of the dictatorship and the restoration of democracy. Sakellaropoulou dedicated the award to those who fought against the dictatorship, reflecting on the pivotal 1970s transitions across Southern Europe.
The Greek Supreme Court and the Chief Prosecutor’s Office have issued a scathing rebuke of online media outlets that prematurely denounced the release of three Pakistani nationals accused of raping a foreign tourist on the island of Mykonos.
Nikos Androulakis, leader of PASOK-KINAL, and Stefanos Kasselakis, leader of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, have strongly criticised the Greek government’s handling of the Predator phone-tapping scandal. Androulakis condemned the shelving of the investigation, citing severe damage to Greece’s institutions and rule of law, while Kasselakis accused the government of an unprecedented cover-up.
The European Commission’s latest report on the rule of law in Greece has received high praise from government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, who highlighted the findings as a strong rebuttal to misinformation about Greece. The report commends Greece’s judicial reforms, anti-corruption efforts, media transparency, and strategic use of economic recovery programmes, validating the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency, efficiency, and democracy.
Athens, Greece – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis underscored the importance of Albania upholding the…
Fredi Beleri, a member of Albania’s ethnic Greek minority, will temporarily leave prison to assume his seat in the European Parliament following allegations of vote-buying during his tenure as mayor of Himare. His release comes amidst upheld legal proceedings and heightened tensions between Albania and Greece, with concerns raised by the Greek Foreign Ministry over the case’s implications for the rule of law
Tensions rise between Albania and Greece as an ethnic Greek mayor is removed from office following a conviction for alleged vote-buying, raising concerns about judicial fairness and impacting Albania’s EU aspirations.