Greek government undermining rule of law in judicial appointments, says constitutional law expert

The Greek government is violating the principles of judicial independence and the rule of law in the appointment of high court presidents, warned Prof. Dr. Xenophon Kontiadis, a constitutional law expert and professor at Panteion University of Athens, in an article published on the news platform Dnews.gr.

In his piece, Prof. Kontiadis criticizes recent legislation introducing secret ballots for the selection of senior judges and highlights that judicial recommendations are increasingly ignored by the government. He argues that the administration avoids appointing judges who may challenge its preferences, instead favoring individuals close to the government, regardless of merit.

Kontiadis stressed that this practice undermines not only the rule of law but also public trust in the judiciary, posing a serious threat to democracy in Greece.

Reacting to the article, Halit Habipoğlu, President of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF), issued a statement noting that Prof. Kontiadis’ remarks “once again expose the systematic erosion of the rule of law by the government in recent years.”

Habipoğlu also pointed to the 2025 Rule of Law Report recently released by the European Commission, which highlights ongoing concerns about the rule of law in Greece, including references to violations of the freedom of association of the Turkish minority. Specifically, the Bekir Usta and Others case group is cited as an example of the government’s failure to comply with European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rulings for over 17 years.

“This continued defiance of the European Convention on Human Rights brings into question our country’s credibility,” said Habipoğlu, “especially for a state that claims to be the ‘cradle of democracy.’”