2024-07-17 14:21:41
The coordinating committee of the Plenary of the presidents of the Bar Associations of Greece proposed that the lawyers go on a nationwide strike on the day of the start of the new judicial year (16.9.2024) in protest against the situation prevailing in the Greek Judiciary and the rule of law, and it is expected that be approved or rejected at the first meeting of the Plenary.
In particular, the coordinating committee of the Plenary of the presidents of the Bar Associations of Greece, in a statement, states: “The practices of selective legislation, in the context of communication management of specific cases and under the pressure of public opinion, the recent announcements of the Minister of Justice, which circumscribe procedural and essential rights of citizens, in violation of ECtHR jurisprudence, the interventions of the President of the Supreme Court in pending cases, under the threat of disciplinary control of judicial officials, the attempt to transfer to lawyers the responsibilities for the delays in the administration of Justice, according to recent her statements, harm the Rule of Law and insult our legal system.
The above comes in addition to the remarks of the European Parliament (Resolution of February 7, 2024) on the Rule of Law in Greece and to the continuous condemnations of our country by the ECtHR for violations of the ECHR regarding the fair trial.
Furthermore, the recent figures of the European Commission for 2024 (Cepej/Euroscoreboard Justice Report), regarding the rates of justice delivery, where our country is in the first positions for delays, highlight the magnitude of the problem with particularly negative consequences in economic and social life of the place (protection of citizens’ freedom of honor and property, non-upgrade of the country’s investment level, etc.).
Faced with this situation, which is constantly worsening, we cannot remain apathetic.
The Coordinating Committee, following its 25.6.2024 decision to highlight the problem in international forums – by appealing to the Petitions Committee of the European Parliament and submitting a report to the European Bar Association (CCBE) – decided to propose to the Plenary the nationwide abstention of lawyers from their duties on 16.9.2024, the day of the start of the new judicial year, in protest against the situation prevailing in the Greek Judiciary and the Rule of Law”.
Source: thestandard.gr