On February 19, 2025, our Senior Partner, Gregory Pelecanos, hosted Mr. Michalis Pikramenos, President of the Supreme Administrative Court of Greece (Conseil d’Etat), in a thought-provoking discussion organized by the NGO Citizens’ Movement for an Open Society. The topic was the dispensation of justice in Greece and good governance, a conversation that highlighted structural challenges and the urgent need for institutional cooperation.
Mr. Pikramenos analyzed the friction between Parliament, the Executive, and the Courts, pinpointing key dysfunctions:
- Parliament enacts laws that contradict court jurisprudence.
- The Executive hesitates to implement court rulings.
- The Courts delay adjudicating disputes, creating legal uncertainty and reinforcing institutional distrust.
His core argument was that Greek society and the state struggle to agree on consistent rules—and, crucially, to abide by them. Without a commitment to the rule of law at all levels of governance, from Parliament down to local municipalities, institutional inefficiencies will persist, undermining public trust.
Also contributing to the discussion was Mr. Panayiotis Pikrammenos, former Caretaker Prime Minister, former VP of the Government, and former President of the Conseil d’Etat. He underscored the foundational role of an effective justice system in strengthening democracy. In today’s shifting geopolitical landscape, Greece faces difficult choices between upholding European values and ensuring national security—a challenge that demands a strong and functional rule of law.
This discussion reinforced a fundamental truth: justice, governance, and democracy are inextricably linked—and require active, ongoing commitment from all branches of the state.
