The lefist Greek government is concerned about the occupation of various public buildings by so-called “anti-state” activists, especially in the wake of a “happening” in Parliament’s courtyard on Thursday.

More than a dozen activists unfurled a banner to demand the abolition of maximum security prisons (in Greece) and the release of terrorist suspects. This was just the latest in a wave of protests that raised the question on whether the Citizens’ Protection Ministry and Justice Ministry should be merged to avert areas where civil rights and public order conflict.

Citizens Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis’ front-page article in the Athens daily “Ta Nea” on Friday took direct aim at what he calls a school of thought holding that “leftist governance means a defenseless country and city and that education allows for every lawless action, because this does not bear a relation to the Left or democracy.”

He also said the notion of a “Left of Nothing” consisting of people “without faces” should be shunned, as the “hour of the Left in Greece is not the time of inexpensive ideologies and controversial catchphrases.”

He rejects the notion that a “leftist” police is one where hooded hooligans burn police.

Panousis, a professor of criminology, emphasized that a leftist government means “egalitarianism, rights, social politics, public dialogue and justice.” He stated that whoever believes that the leftist government leaves the country without policing should reconsider their definition.

The article comes at a time when opposition parties are highly critical of the courtyard entry, with accusations launched against Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou, who claimed their entry was “no big deal” as citizens had a right to protest.

On the contrary, government spokesman Gavriil Sakellaridis said the act was “provocative and inexplicable.”