Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) members appear to be immune to popular outrage concerning moral justice and are giving a recital in nepotism. The latest example is that of Alternate Education Minister Sia Anagnostopoulou whose family appointments reign supreme, something that is a matter of course within the party. The problem isn’t just that the politician appointed her two nephews to ministerial political offices in the public sector, she then went on to undermine public sentiment by justifying the meritocracy of her decision.

“Politics should be practised using political and ideological terms. I’m one of the people who, along with my party, always say that you can’t strike people because we’ll end up picking up daggers against each other,” she said in an interview on private MEGA TV. According to Anagnostopoulou, the political acts of someone who appoints their family or friends or constituents should not be judged per se. Instead, she feels that she should be judged according to her political positions.

Anagnostopoulou resorted to the usual commonplace theories and concerning “cannibalism”. She justified her family appointments by stating that, according to the law, a relative or friend is legal. “Is it bad for someone to have a relative of the third degree in their office?” she said. “Am I to answer for ministers who appointed my relatives?”

The fact that she asks such questions shows a lack of true understanding of the foundations on which a meritocratic society should be based. It should be noted that following the January elections, the 25-year-old niece of the minister, Elizabeth Siskou was hired by the political office of Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos. In another decision, Nikos Filis retroactively appointed Anagnostopoulou’s nephew Stephanos Siskos to the position of administrative employee.

Niece

Nephew