Freedom of the press in Greece: scandal about media oligarches and government

Freedom of the press in Greece: scandal about media oligarches and government

Griechenland - Freedom of the press in Greece is still under considerable pressure and is criticized from different sides. According to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), journalists are exposed to increased state surveillance and intimidation by government -related actors. The situation has increasingly deteriorated since the Liberal Conservative Party "New Democracy" in July 2019. Greece is currently taking the last place among the 27 EU countries in freedom of the press and is in 107th place in the global ranking.

hrw describes "From Bad to Worse: The Deterioration of Media Freedom in Greece" that journalists are exposed to abusive complaints that are often initiated by politicians and endanger press freedom. These so -called "slapps" (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) serve as intimidation instruments against critical voices. It is also reported that in 2022 the suspicion was suspected of having used the Spionage software government to monitor journalists. This exacerbates the already enemy work environment for the rapporteurs.

structural problems in the media landscape

The Greek media landscape is dominated by a few influential tycons that often maintain close connections to politics. The most important actors include the owner of the business newspaper "Naftemporiki", Dimitris Melissanidis, as well as the Kyriakou family, which is the owner of the Antenna Group. The Vardinojannis family and Jannis Alafouzos, the owner of "Kathimerini" and "Skai TV", also play a central role. Evangelos Marinakis and Ivan Savvidis also control significant media and have political connections that expand their area of ​​influence

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation describes the Greek media landscape as oligarchically, shaped by a close interaction between media companies and sport. This increases the power of media owners and endangers the independence of reporting. According to reporters without borders, publishing efficiency has deteriorated significantly in recent years, with a decline in newspaper requirements of 10.2 percent in 2023 and 12.4 percent in 2024. Many media are criticized because of their debts, while the requirements of most newspapers remain low.

criticism and state reactions

The Greek government has been criticized for some time for its influence on state media and the restriction of freedom of the press. Prime Minister Kyriako's Mitsotakis has repeatedly rejected allegations and emphasizes that Greece is strong in terms of the rule of law. However, the reports on self -censorship are increasing among journalists. This condition has also triggered internationally. In February 2024, the European Parliament expressed serious concerns about media freedom in Greece.

hrw demands from the EU to increasingly put pressure on Athens to ensure freedom of the press. Journalists and media experts are calling for a rethink in Greek politics to protect the rights of the press and enable a future -proof media landscape.

The discussion about freedom of the press in Greece remains of high social and political relevance. It remains to be seen whether and how changes in the media landscape can be brought about in order to guarantee the independence of reporting and tackle the existing problems.

For further details, the reports from Ostsee-Zeitung , Tagesschau and