180 -degree turn from Mitsotakis for universities – congratulations to the Rector of the EKPA

Following the government crescendo of authoritarianism on the issue of « lawlessness » in universities and threats to implications for HEIs that do not comply with the application of the law, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, seeing that the confrontation for universities is not leading to them,

A few days ago, the prime minister had referred to recent incidents in university institutions and had rushed to herald sanctions for both students « who have messed up freedom of expression with organized violence » as they have typically said, and they should not be  » applicable. « 

He had even reported to university schools that they should « know that if they do not, there will be specific sanctions ».

A storm of reactions followed by both the university community and the political parties against the government’s targeting of HEIs.

‘The university was effectively moved away from intentions’

Yesterday, the Rector of the EKPA, Gerasimos Siasos, stressed in a statement about the Law School that the University of Athens « was effectively moved out of the limelight and micro -political or communicative expediencies », adding that « the University of Athens » is in his role.

Mr Siasos also emphasized that « with university’s lightning actions, the occupation site cleared, several damage was repaired, the walls were painted, the space was emptied and the necessary work was initiated to be attributed to where it belongs, that is, to the students. »

Change… Rotas from Mitsotakis

So after the government’s narrative « About Violence and Law » at Universities, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis changed … Rota.

It is noteworthy that in today’s Sunday review, after congratulating ELAS. On the identification and arrest of the perpetrators of the bloody attack on legal, but also for the evacuation of the school’s canteen who was occupied by a « self -management » group of the site, he congratulated the Rector « for his immediate response ».

He emphasized that « today, just days later, the school space is reminiscent of the image it presented during the occupation. The battle with university lawlessness is constant and we still have a lot of work.

But the example of Law shows that when there is a will and cooperation between the Rector’s Authorities and the State, the image of our universities changes with perseverance, plan and hard work. « 

Elsewhere, the prime minister pointed out that « we have recognized that heavy crime that in many cases is burned by some academic institutions, needed stricter measures to deal with and this will happen with the loyal cooperation of the Rector’s authorities.

Universities belong to students and teachers and not to minorities who believe that they can « masquerade » their criminal acts with overdue decades. This situation cannot, should not and will not be tolerated by anyone. «