The leftist Greek government’s apparent displeasure with the online publication of various state sector expenditures is reportedly behind an amendment allowing for an “exception” to a draft law mandating the posting of all public administration decisions on the Internet.

If passed, it would be the first major setback for the high-profile measure — the pioneering Diavgeia (clearnance, clarity) programme — since it was first instituted five years ago. At the time the initiative aimed to boost transparency in Greece’s cavernous and often opaque narrow and wider public sector.

In a slightly Orwellian twist, the proposed amendment is included in an interior ministry draft bill entitled “Democratization of the (public) administration – Combating bureaucracy and electronic government – Restoration of injustices and other provisions”.

Beyond the move for “democratization”, the controversial provision would allow exceptions, in terms of Internet publication, not for any public administration decision, but for decisions dealing with the approval of … expenditures.

The timing of the amendment’s inclusion in the draft bill also raised eyebrows, coming late on the evening of April 30, i.e. a day before the May Day holiday on Friday.