Greece is Europe’s biggest ‘democracy backslider,’ study finds
Greek democracy is in retreat a new European study has found while warning that the crisis-hit country has declined across the rule of law, control of corruption and political stability.
The Demos report, which was published under the title “Backsliders: Measuring democracy in the EU” and with the support of the European Parliament’s Socialists and Democrats Group, said that Greece and other countries in the European Union are struggling to upkeep the democratic principles that once gained them entry in the club.
Greece, as well as Hungary, are “the most significant democratic backsliders,” the report said, adding that the former was “the most corrupt” state in the bloc.
“Researchers found Greece overwhelmed by high unemployment, social unrest, endemic corruption and a severe disillusionment with the political establishment,” experts said in a press release Thursday while emphasizing the rise of far-right Golden Dawn.
“These findings highlight problems many EU member states are experiencing on vital issues of democracy, justice and citizenship,” according to the head of the Citizenship Program at Demos and author of the report, Jonathan Birdwell, who urged the EU to embrace its role as a watchdog of democracy.
A prosecutor in Athens Thursday ordered an investigation into a blog post on the special forces reservists’ website demanding the government and president resign and an interim government be appointed under the “guarantee” of the armed forces.
