After the recent report showing that Greece is the worst EU country when it comes to press freedom, the conservative Greek lawmaker and a former journalist, Dimitris Markopoulos, has lashed out against the Reporters Without Borders (RSF), describing it as a leftist NGO.
Besides being the worst ranking for an EU member, Greece’s nosedive from rank 70 in 2021 to 108 on World Press Freedom Index lands it also below any Western Balkans candidate country among which the worst-ranked is Albania (103rd).
The ruling New Democracy party’s (EPP) MP, Markopoulos stressed that it’s impossible for them to follow every NGO in Greece, with usually leftist characteristics, as something that is so crucial.
He underscored that they must put an end to the game with some losers from abroad presenting them as something important, pointing the finger at the main Greek opposition, the Syriza party (EU Left).
RSF’s Head of European Union & Balkans Desk, Pavol Szalai, warned that given the upgraded methodology, the comparison between the 2022 and the 2021 World Press Freedom Index has to be done with precaution, stressing that Greece fell also because of the rise of other countries.
However, he also noted that the methodological changes or changes in other countries cannot be the sole explanation for the staggering low ranking of Greece in the World Press Freedom Index.
The Greek government reacted to some alleged shortcomings in the report’s methodology pointing out that it cites a case of a journalist’s assassination that’s still under investigation by authorities.
The well-known Greek journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, who was covering police-related issues, was shot dead in April 2021 in a mafia-style execution in front of his house. Szalai criticized the Greek government for failing to follow on its promises of a quick probe.
He also noted contrary to EC’s September 2021 recommendations on the safety of journalists, the now-blocked investigation lacks basic transparency.
According to the European Commission spokesperson, the EC’s 2022 Rule of Law Report will have a particular focus on media matters.
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