Tensions between the Greek media and government escalated following the interruption of state television , ERT, broadcasts by a journalists’ union announcement.
A morning chat show was interrupted by an announcement condemning the recent suspension of two presenters who were seen as critical of the government.
The union called for the reinstatement of the presenters, warning,
“Employees will proceed with continuous 24-hour strikes and other actions to preserve the prestige of ERT… which the management is undermining.”
The earlier prosecution of a critiquing magazine editor, Kostas Vacevanis, soured relations between the free media and the state.
The free press advocacy group, Article 19, described the Greek state actions as “a direct attack on democracy which must not be tolerated.”
“It is not an appropriate response for a democratic European government to limit press freedom in order to protect political power.”
The Athens Bar Association noted that the government’s resolute pursuit of a journalist whilst failing to launch an investigation into tax evasion of senior officials gave the impression that, “the democratic institutions in Greece, or whatever remains of them, are applied now to protect the system in power.”
