OPINION

State responsibility

The allegations of corruption against the judiciary and the clergy present a pathetic picture. Both institutions – which, according to opinion polls, Greeks trust more than any other in the country – committed a major mistake by not taking swift steps to purge themselves of corruption, by not condemning and defenestrating a minority of pitiful representatives. Now that the judiciary and the Church have lost face through the actions of their self-proclaimed purgers, the question is whether the state is willing to preserve these two institutions that have played such an important role in Greek and European history, or whether a few people have decided to bring down longstanding social structures for the sake of satisfying popular curiosity, thinking that they will thereby be left to govern unchecked. That does not mean that the government should try to sweep the shameful incidents under the rug. To the contrary, any reform campaign must be straightforward and painful and kept clear of the greedy media. A law-abiding state, a responsible government, do not need the help of the media to carry out their reform policies. To be sure, one cannot blame journalists for having unearthed scandals that were kept buried by the many people who knew of them. The latest revelations should spur the political system, and particularly the conservative administration, into action. But the media role in a society that is governed by the rule of law should stop there. The government launched a decisive campaign to clean up the judicial system, yet the weakest link is the Church of Greece, which has been treated in a disrespectful fashion in the name of countering corruption. Meanwhile, Education and Religion Minister Marietta Giannakou had – unlike Justice Minister Anastassis Papaligouras – been extremely laconic. All the ministry did was to suggest that Giannakou will object the appointment of a clergyman as head of the so-called «clerical and lay committee» that has been proposed by the Holy Synod. Of course, far more serious issues are at stake at present. Neither Giannakou nor any other government cadre has openly voiced their support for the overwhelming majority of respectable priests to whom the faithful turn at difficult times. The political class has not backed the embattled institution. The vacuum created by state and government inaction is filled by the media. Their emergence as self-styled justice fighters is sign of a dangerously dysfunctional society. The scandals that have come to light underscore that two of society’s fundamental institutions, the justice system and the Church, are in crisis. Most alarming, however, is the embarrassment of state officials when faced with such unwholesome phenomena. These must be dealt with as soon as possible with a comprehensive reform campaign. The administration should move to restructure the state and protect two of the main pillars of society.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.