Greece and the rule of law

I read the farewell letter that was published in Kathimerini by former Greek prime minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos following the recent death of his friend and colleague Giorgos Panagiotopoulos (both men served as presidents of the Council of State, the country's highest administrative court).

I will not comment on the more personal aspects of their relationship, except for the importance given by Pikrammenos, now deputy prime minister, to "the way we were brought up" and "values we were taught [as kids] by our families and schools," a decisive springboard for any society that aspires to move forward to a better future.

There are many didactic references for anyone who is interested in seeing a better version of Greece (an ambition some people are actually struggling for). References, that is, to a country where the rule of law is respected and inevitably plays a...