THESSALONIKI – “The organisation and operational independence of judicial officials is a prerequisite for deepening the rule of law in our time but also a component element of democratic life in our country, especially given that in the recent past, there has unfortunately been raw intervention by political power in their work and behaviours that have damaged the prestige of justice,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Tuesday. The prime minister was speaking at a ceremony for the swearing in of graduates of the National School of Judges in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.

He called on them to ignore any threats and daily signal their independence through their rulings.

The prime minister also referred to the government’s plans to improve the infrastructure of the justice system, such as new buildings and digitalisation, the foundation of a school for court employees as well as judges, as well as reforms in the organisation of the justice system to give incentives for excellence.

The event was attended by Justice Minister Konstantinos Tsiaras, Deputy Macedonia-Thrace Minister Stavros Kalafatis, Supreme Court President Maria Georgiou, Council of State President Dimitris Skaltsounis, Court of Audit President Ioannis Sarmas, Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor Vasilis Pliotas, Central Macedonia governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas and New Democracy MPs.