Pikramenos stresses rule of law; ABTTF calls for implementation of ECHR rulings
Council of State President Mihalis Pikramenos emphasized the binding nature of the rule of law for all institutions during his speech at the annual congress of the Hellenic Association of Municipalities (KEDE) held in Alexandroupolis from November 6–8, 2025.
Pikramenos stated, “The principles of the rule of law and legitimacy apply to everyone, whether elected or appointed; they are not optional—they are the foundation of democracy.”
He highlighted that failure to implement court decisions at the local government level is a serious issue, contributing to an increase in convictions against Greece at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). He stressed that adherence to legal norms is a fundamental requirement for democratic responsibility and the public good.
Commenting on the matter, Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Western Thrace Turkish Minority Federation (ABTTF), expressed full support for Pikramenos’s remarks and drew attention to Greece’s shortcomings in implementing ECHR rulings.
Habipoğlu said, “We fully agree with Council of State President Pikramenos that the rule of law must be upheld by everyone and all institutions in our country. ECHR rulings against Greece are not limited to local governments. Three rulings in the ‘Bekir Usta and Others’ case group concerning associations in our community have not been enforced for over 17 years. Furthermore, in June 2025, Greece was once again convicted in the case of the Turkish Women’s Cultural Association of Xanthi for violating Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of association.”
He added that implementing ECHR rulings is one of the clearest indicators of respect for the rule of law and called on Greece to enforce these decisions fully and promptly.
