Greek State Council Says Closure of ERT Is “Constitutional & Legal”

The Greek State Council passed judgement that the sudden closure of public television and radio broadcasting service ERT on June 12, 2013 was “constitutional, legal and not in conflict with European legislation”. The ruling goes against an appeal that was launched by the federation of ERT employees (POSPERT).

From the very beginning HellasFrappe said that the government's decision to shut down ERT -which was a cesspool of corruption- was within legal lines. It was obvious that the government had done its homework when it shut it down.

Well it seems that the State Council’s ruling agrees with this argument. According to them ERT’s closure was deemed to be in-line with the law as the public broadcasting service had been included in the government reform plans since July 2011, which included “non-essential public bodies”. In an announcement the council added that there are no constitutional requirements for the operation of a public television and radio broadcasting service.

Moreover, the Council held that the aside from the financial needs that lead to the closure; the government had ensured that an interim service (EDT) had been established prior to the creation of a new public service (NERIT).

It should be also noted, however, that the State Council decision was not unanimous, with a minority of ten councilors arguing that the closure was against the Constitution and that the need for such a service was even greater when “private radio and television services continue to operate illegally to this day, while tolerated by the State”.