In the modern Hellenic Republic and its conquests Postcolonialbut also the challenges it faces on the international stage, said the President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in statements to ERT a few hours before the reception at the Presidential Palace for the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Republic.
She also spoke about the need for reforms with the greatest possible consensus, responded to criticism she received for her participation in a dinner after the approval of the Marriage Equality Act, as well as the question of whether she would like a second term in the Presidency of Democracy and described her personal mark on the highest institution of the State.
At the same time, he also referred to a series of issues such as the Cyprus issue, justice, human rights, the climate crisis, immigration and ended by sending a message of optimism for the future of our country, on the occasion of the completion of 50 years since the restoration of the Republic.
The President of the Republic stressed that a liberal and democratic country, with Greece’s history, must have high goals and noted that despite the difficulties we have faced with both the financial crisis and the pandemic, our institutions have managed to resist and our country is a pillar of stability in a sensitive area. As he said, “the institutions have resisted, but that does not mean that they are not all receptive to improvements, with continuous efforts, because the charming thing about democracy is that it is a continuous demand. We must constantly fight to win over the next ones.”
Referring to the greatest achievement of the Post-Revolutionary period, he spoke of the “consolidation of a liberal democracy, of the normality we have experienced with the holding of unchanged elections all these years and the smooth change of power, the resolution of the State, the legalization of the Communist Party and the recognition of the National Resistance and, of course, entry into the European Union and then into the Monetary Union” and added that “there were definitely many individual reforms, mainly in the 1975 Constitution on which very important legislative interventions were based”.
The biggest failures of this period and the challenges
On the other hand, he characterized the Cyprus issue and the financial crisis as the greatest failures of this period and stressed that “as long as the Cyprus issue remains open, Hellenism can never feel calm”, while pointing out the need for a fair and sustainable solution, in the decisions of the UN Council and in the EU acquis. As he noted, “Cyprus is a member of the EU and an EU member country should not be divided”.
In describing the challenges that our country must face, he made special reference to the climate crisis, arguing that interstate and international cooperation is necessary, and focused particularly on demography, which he characterized as a major problem for Greece and for the future of our country. He referred to the changes needed for the modernization of justice, but did not fail to mention migration, the humanitarian crisis and the insecurity created both by the ongoing war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East. However, he sent a message of optimism for the future, stressing that we will move forward with vigor and noted that “man must always look to the future with optimism, never give up and never give up”.
Asked to describe her personal impression of the Presidency of the Republic, after clarifying that she does not come from the political arena, she emphasized that she worked in the Judiciary as a judge for almost 40 years and was therefore called upon to meet the demands of her new institutional role, emphasizing that the President of the Republic has limited powers but high symbolic importance and is called upon to express unity and stability. At the same time, she argued that “institutions evolve along with society; the President of the Republic of 1975 is not the President of the Republic of today, just as society itself is no longer the President of the Republic.” In this context, she emphasized that “what I sought and was most interested in doing was, on the one hand, to remain faithful to my responsibilities and obligations, as they are written in the Constitution and in the laws, and to the tradition, if you will, of the institutional role. But I wanted this openness to society. For the institution to be closer to the citizen or the citizen to the institution, and that is what I sought.” He also stated that “Of course I wanted and I tried and I will try until the end of my term to travel all over Greece and, both with my speeches and with events, to make this mark. To be heard, as I said, to give a voice to those who do not have one, to shed light on aspects and aspects of society, of the social whole, of the vulnerable and of other groups, which have not always been at the forefront.”
Responding to criticism he received for his participation in a dinner that followed the approval of the Marriage Equality Act, he stated that “In the four years that I have been President, I have never spoken out in favour of any reform while a bill was still in progress, that is, before it was approved by Parliament. Never, because I am very careful with this issue. The same thing has happened now. It is a completely different thing before and after. Any legislation, especially that relating to individual rights, often causes tensions in society. Not only in Parliament, but in society. But this is democracy, this is the essence of democracy, some choices are made by those who have the responsibility and the initiative, there is discussion, the exchange of arguments in Parliament and then a Bill is approved or not. I think it is absurd after the approval of the Bill, a Bill that concerns an issue that has also been adopted in most liberal democracies, to argue that someone is wrongly taking a position on one side or the other and that this hurts the feelings of the person who holds the other side’s point of view. Furthermore, the events of that night are not so important, but I want to say that I have been a judge for 40 years and I have always spoken out and fought for individual rights in the cases I have handled. Human rights whose basic principle is universality. The universality of the enjoyment of rights is the central principle of rights in a liberal democracy. It is divisive to divide rights into majorities and minorities, and not to defend universal enjoyment. Here some of our fellow citizens claimed and were able to enjoy rights that we already have. They did not take anything away from anyone else. But I respect everyone’s opinion.”
Regarding the possibility of a second term as President of the Republic, he responded that “what I want is to fulfil my duty until the last day, on March 25, what is described and what I have planned, trying to respond”. So I try to respond in the best way. As I had not worried about the first term – in any case, these are decisions made by other institutions with their own criteria – then I see no reason to worry about anything beyond that”.
When asked if she was concerned about her personal reputation, she argued that “anyone who holds public office should be concerned about the mark they are going to leave, because we are all, in the position that each of us is called to serve, aligned for the collective good. Therefore, this should concern us and everyone’s efforts should be intensified. Do your job in the best way possible, fulfill your duty in the best way possible so that something remains, which society will end up appreciating and history will record.”
With information from APE-MPE