Greece - 71.32
49
You can thank them for Brexit
Greece has entered a dark era. The Greek economy has been in a tailspin since the 2008 financial crisis. Rising debt and incompetent management of social services have led to increased unrest. Greece, a member of both the European Union and the Eurozone, has drawn significant ire for devaluing the Euro and hurting the economies of other countries within both economic groups. Greece also faces mounting pressure from neighboring Turkiye, who, while ostensibly a NATO ally, serves exclusively their own interests. Turkiye disputes Greece’s claim to a number of islands in the Aegean Sea and has been conducting military exercises in territory claimed by Greece in recent years. Greece has one of the fastest aging populations in the world, and the Greek population has been in decline since 2011. Greece faces an unprecedented migrant crisis but has failed to reap the benefits, as most migrants entering Greece emigrate to other EU countries with more favorable conditions. Greece struggles with corruption and police brutality on levels comparable to developing countries. Greece’s future does not look bright, as a series of incompetent governments have failed to rectify these persistent issues. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic worsened already existing problems with civil unrest and economic turmoil.
Human Rights - 82
Greece has fully abolished the death penalty. Police brutality is a major issue. Greek police are known to beat detainees during arrest. Allegations of police brutality, especially against migrants, are rarely adequately investigated. The Ombudsman’s Office received several reports of torture throughout 2020. Most were investigated and several led to prosecution. Migrants were held in poor conditions in facilities throughout the Aegean Islands. Moria Camp on Lesbos hosted 20,000 migrants, despite a capacity of 3,000. After a fire struck several parts of Moria Camp, the migrants were evacuated and forced to sleep on the road for several days. Migrant camps had inadequate COVID responses, as the disease swept through camps and saw significantly higher casualty rates than for Greek citizens. The government is known to arbitrarily detain journalists for covering conditions in migrant detention centers. The government detained two German teams and an Italian team on Lesbos in 2020. Greece guarantees same-sex cohabitation agreements but not same-sex marriage, and any single person can adopt but Greece does not have same-sex joint adoption. Abortion is legal to twelve weeks.
Democracy - 87
The largely ceremonial president is elected by a parliamentary supermajority. The president then chooses the prime minister, who is usually the leader of the majority coalition. Twelve parliament seats are elected in one nationwide election while all others are elected through proportional representation. Elections are free and fair. Greece is currently under a three-party system but party formation and participation is not restricted. Elections have historically been dominated by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) and New Democracy (ND) but the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) entered politics in 2015 and established a single-party majority. Smaller parties exist and hold a few seats in parliament.
Freedom - 82
Greece defines hate speech as “actions or speech that may provoke acts of violence or hatred against a certain group.” Genocide denial is also punishable as hate speech. Hate speech is punishable by up to three years in jail or fines not exceeding the equivalent of $25,500. Greece has generally unenforced laws criminalizing defamation. The Greek Orthodox Church receives special treatment from the government, which pays the salary of the clergy and grants the church subsidies. The government forcibly dispersed a demonstration at a university in 2020. The protest was held annually and was dispersed due to COVID despite other protests being allowed. All drugs are illegal in Greece and possession is punishable by jail sentences. Greece shall issue gun ownership licenses for semi-automatic handguns, bolt-action rifles, and shotguns. Proof of threat to life is required for a self-defense permit, which is rarely issued.
Economy - 73
Health - 92
Greece has a life expectancy of 82 years and an infant mortality rate of 0.25%. 24.9% of Greeks are obese and 2.5% are malnourished. Greece has a very strong universal healthcare system, providing free, high-quality care to all EU citizens. 96% of Greeks have access to clean, running water, but the Aegean Islands are in the midst of a major water shortage and as a result, the country is forced to import large amounts of drinking water. 37% of adult Greeks smoke regularly.
Corruption - 27
Judicial verdicts are bought and sold at nearly all levels of the courts. Only the highest-level district courts are not subject to corruption. Police corruption is common but not rampant in Greece. Public services must be bribed into action. Building permits are effectively impossible to obtain without corruption. Tax funds are embezzled at all levels of government and the Greek tax administration is one of the most burdensome in the European Union. Migrants are often harassed or extorted by border control. Greek borders are notoriously porous and Greece is a major entry point for African cocaine smuggled into Europe. Public contracts are nearly impossible to obtain without corruption.
Competency - 35
The government is failing to protect migrants, allowing them to fester in camps with horrible conditions and failing to provide basic services. The Greek economy has been in a tailspin since the 2008 financial crisis and the Greek population has been declining since around the same time. The government has accordingly failed to eliminate poverty and unemployment, both of which have been on the rise. The government has failed to control corruption, which is more prevalent in Greece than most other EU countries.
Future - 33
The Greek economy has not recovered since the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with repeated and consistent mismanagement spell a dark economic future for Greece. The Greek migrant crisis is not likely to let up soon, and migrants in Greek facilities will likely continue to face horrible conditions. Greece is in the midst of mass civil unrest that is not likely to subside in the near future.
Actions Abroad - 40
Greece has a generally antagonistic relationship with neighboring Turkiye. Greece has repeatedly opposed Turkish ascension into the European Union and both countries lay conflicting claims to various Aegean Islands under the de facto control of Greece. Greece is an EU member state but has drawn widespread criticism for its failures to contribute and the negative effect that the Greek financial crisis has had on other countries in the Eurozone. Greece supported the al-Bashir regime in Sudan but also supported his deposition and the subsequent ongoing transition to democracy. Greece has offered to broker negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh. Greece vetoed North Macedonia’s ascension into the European Union over its name, only approving their ascension after they changed their name from Macedonia to North Macedonia.
2.9% of Greeks live under the international poverty line and 21% live under the national poverty line. 16.85% of Greeks are unemployed. Greece has very low economic disparity. Greece has a very strong universal healthcare system. All EU citizens are covered and healthcare is of consistently high quality throughout the country. The Greek economy shrunk 8.2% in 2020 and grew 1.9% in 2019. The Greek economy is subject to rapid fluctuations.