George Papandreou: "The government bears exclusive responsibility for the erosion of institutions"
Former Prime Minister George Papandreou criticized the current government, asserting it is responsible for the degradation of democratic institutions in Greece.
George Papandreou, the former Prime Minister of Greece, has voiced strong criticism against the current government, particularly targeting Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. In his statements, Papandreou claims that the government's actions have led to a significant erosion of social cohesion and increased toxicity and mistrust in public life. He describes recent developments, particularly regarding wiretapping scandals, as indicative of a broader decline in democratic values within the country.
Papandreou highlighted that the recent court ruling concerning wiretapping cases represents a 'ray of light' amidst a troubling landscape for legitimate democratic practices in Greece. He characterizes this decision as a victory not just for the rule of law and investigative journalism but also for democracy itself in the nation. The former Prime Minister's comments underline his belief that the current government's policies have gravely undermined citizens' confidence in their fundamental rights, which are supposedly protected under both the Greek Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Furthermore, Papandreou warned that widespread violations of these rights severely damage Greece's international credibility and trust among its citizens. He positioned this judgment as crucial for restoring faith in democratic institutions as well as reinforcing the critical role of investigative journalism in upholding democracy. By framing the situation in this manner, Papandreou aims to galvanize public awareness and dialogue regarding the health of democracy in Greece today.