Greek Democracy in action – the sacking of Grigoris Vallianatos
Risto Stefov
November 10, 2008
Grigoris Vallianatos, a gay and human rights activist in Greece was Media Advisor to the Greek PASOK party that is until he expressed his personal views regarding Macedonia. Vallianatos it seems gave the wrong answers when he gave his personal opinion on Greek television because the next day he was sacked by Giorgos Papandreou, leader of PASOK, the main Greek opposition Party.
On Thursday evening November 6th, 2008 Grigoris Vallianatos was a guest on a Greek television show when he was asked for his opinion if "Skopje" should be called "Macedonia". He naturally said "yes" which shocked the show hosts prompting them to ask the same question again to which Vallianatos again replied "yes" adding that this was his personal opinion. Still shocked by his answer the show host then asked Mr. Vallianatos if there was "a Macedonian minority" in Greece to which Mr. Vallianatos again replied with a "yes"!
At this point the show hosts became belligerent, to say the least, and behaved disgracefully towards Mr. Vallianatos demanding that he be immediately fired from his position.
Upon learning of this, Andreas Loverdos, PASOK´s foreign policy advisor, immediately denied that Vallianatos had made any such remarks as he dove into personal attacks towards the Republic of Macedonia with the usual derogatory demeanor.
Sure enough, the next day, Grigoris Vallianatos was officially fired from his job at PASOK.
This however is not the first time people were fired for admitting that "Macedonians exist". Dora Grosomanidou, the Greek Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia was also fired not too long ago for referring to the Republic of Macedonia as the "Republic of Macedonia" and not as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" or its derogatory acronym "FYROM" preferred by Greece.
So far Greece has demonstrated its willingness to sensor everyone, private citizens or government employees from expressing a different view from official Athens on matters relating to Macedonia and the Macedonians.
These are indeed dangerous precedents for a country that prides itself on being the cradle of democracy and belongs in the European Union which is founded on democratic principles. Shame on you Greece and those Greeks who condone this kind of behaviour leading to the erosion of freedom of speech.
You can contact the author at rstefov@hotmail.com
On Thursday evening November 6th, 2008 Grigoris Vallianatos was a guest on a Greek television show when he was asked for his opinion if "Skopje" should be called "Macedonia". He naturally said "yes" which shocked the show hosts prompting them to ask the same question again to which Vallianatos again replied "yes" adding that this was his personal opinion. Still shocked by his answer the show host then asked Mr. Vallianatos if there was "a Macedonian minority" in Greece to which Mr. Vallianatos again replied with a "yes"!
At this point the show hosts became belligerent, to say the least, and behaved disgracefully towards Mr. Vallianatos demanding that he be immediately fired from his position.
Upon learning of this, Andreas Loverdos, PASOK´s foreign policy advisor, immediately denied that Vallianatos had made any such remarks as he dove into personal attacks towards the Republic of Macedonia with the usual derogatory demeanor.
Sure enough, the next day, Grigoris Vallianatos was officially fired from his job at PASOK.
This however is not the first time people were fired for admitting that "Macedonians exist". Dora Grosomanidou, the Greek Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia was also fired not too long ago for referring to the Republic of Macedonia as the "Republic of Macedonia" and not as the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" or its derogatory acronym "FYROM" preferred by Greece.
So far Greece has demonstrated its willingness to sensor everyone, private citizens or government employees from expressing a different view from official Athens on matters relating to Macedonia and the Macedonians.
These are indeed dangerous precedents for a country that prides itself on being the cradle of democracy and belongs in the European Union which is founded on democratic principles. Shame on you Greece and those Greeks who condone this kind of behaviour leading to the erosion of freedom of speech.
You can contact the author at rstefov@hotmail.com
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