Double standards

New Democracy's decision to nominate Fredi Beleri, the imprisoned mayor of Himare, as a candidate for the European Parliament aims to highlight Albania's violation of the rule of law as a European concern. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis made this clear on Wednesday, while also condemning attempts to monopolize these "progressive" issues.

Indeed, the government's stance becomes contradictory when it dismisses criticism from the European Parliament concerning its performance on the rule of law. It cannot reject criticism when it is directed toward itself but then become oversensitive when the issue pertains to Greece's Balkan neighbor, Albania.

Main opposition SYRIZA suffers from the same "double standards" syndrome. SYRIZA President Stefanos Kasselakis criticized favoritism and nepotism just months ago, yet on Monday, he announced the inclusion of his cousin,...