Development Minister Nikos Dendias said he was skeptical of the Council of State’s decision to temporarily suspend Sunday shop opening times after it was ruled unconstitutional on Thursday. This new decision bars shops from opening on Sunday after ministerial orders allowed for Sunday opening on a pilot basis in selected periods for a year.

“There should be investments, a stable environment that makes people feel confident. On what grounds was the Sunday opening of shops deemed unconstitutional?” asked Dendias during an interview with Alpha radio.

Shop owners, employees and trade unions appealed against the law that they said causes “irreparable financial and moral damages”. They argue that the Sunday law favors chain stores and may squeeze smaller shops out of business.

The decision for Sunday openings has only temporarily been suspended and a ruling later this year is to determine whether the suspension will be deemed permanent. Shops exempt from the temporary Sunday shopping ban are those in areas that rely heavily on tourism as well as shops with a surface area of up to 250 sq meters.