Editorial: Incidents of nepotism

There is no reason for one to dispute the achievements of Alternate Research and Innovation Minister Constantinos Fotakis.

Indeed, one cannot but recognise that despite the economic crisis investment in research reached record levels for Greece.

One also has no reason to doubt the studies and abilities of the minister’s son. Sources tell Ta Nea that his CV is exceptionally interesting. Consequently, the scholarship that he received from a state programme as a PhD candidate may be absolutely legal. Yet, how moral is it when the programme is under the jurisdiction of a minister who is his father?

This country has suffered from nepotism, and unfortunately it has continued under SYRIZA rule. The incident with the secretary of the party’s youth group is indicative. He said he thought it was natural for him to be appointed to state jobs because his granfather was a leftist guerrilla.

That is not the only incident. Ministers and party cadres in many instances gave jobs to relatives and friends even as the ruling party vehemently opposed (and opposes) work evaluations for civil servants.

Perhaps one is throwing the baby is being thrown out with the bathwater, but for a government which has often engaged in nepotism and rejects evaluation it is not enough to simply follow the letter of the law. It must make sure that what is done legally is also moral.