Archive note: This text comes from the old archive of Nomika Epilekta and is carefully preserved for historical and informational reading.

A basic feature of democracy is the equality of citizens before the law. In other words, all citizens, without distinction, are subject to the laws, must respect them, and are punished when they violate them.

This democratically self-evident principle is not applied in contemporary Greece, because most of the powerful, the "strong" of the Byzantine period or the "notables" of foreign rule, are not punished when they break the laws, but are often praised for doing so.

The examples of impunity for the powerful are countless and constitute the rule, just as countless and regular are the examples of the weak and economically vulnerable, who suffer excessive and often inhuman, crushing punishments disproportionate to the offense.

The perception has become entrenched that the economically and socially, politically, powerful person is not punished and always prevails, while the socially and economically weak person is persecuted.

A study would be useful concerning the penalties imposed in recent years, as well as the convicted and, above all, the imprisoned. Useful conclusions would be drawn from it, and the observation above would probably be confirmed rather than refuted, because those who are usually imprisoned are the ones who do not have the means to defend themselves, and not always the truly guilty. We will pursue such a study by every lawful means.

This situation is due to the structure of modern society and, more specifically, to the fact that there seems to be no social orientation, no social values, and no principles. There is a downgrading of education, of paideia, and of popular learning, with the ruthless, the opportunists, and those who possess political relationships, connections, and access prevailing alongside gigantic financial resources.

The representatives of the state mechanism for the administration of justice at any given time show particular respect and honor to the powerful and disdain the weak; this finding emerges, among other things, from the trials that are conducted and from their course.

In general, the situation in contemporary Greece has reached an impasse. For this reason, immediate action must be taken by those who claim competence, but also by society as a whole, by every citizen, in order to restore equality before the law, as it is provided, as a fundamental right and basic principle, by the constitution and by international agreements, conventions, treaties, and declarations.

Emmanouil Papadakis