Greek Police Chief’s open backing of SYRIZA at Tsipras rally stirs uproar

The presence of Greek Police Chief Aristeidis Andrikopoulos and Coast Guard Chief Stamatis Raptis at SYRIZA rallies and political events has stirred a political maelstrom as it is a glaring violation of the country's basic law.

Article 29 (par. 3) of the Greek Constitution states that: "All types of activity for or against a political party are absolutely prohibited for judicial functionaries and all serving in the armed forces and security forces [police]."

Presidential Decree 120 of 2008 specifically stipulates that "any form of public expression for or against political parties and political figures is punishable with "suspension and possible redundancy".

The Citizen's Protection (public order) Minister is the one who is charged with the task of conducting a sworn administrative probe and Deputy Minister Katerina Papakosta said that "no one is exempt from police regulations".

Greek Police officers have been highly politicised along party lines for decades, and that can be explained in part by the fact that most often Greek governments pick police brass based on party affiliation.

Andrikopoulos was appointed in the aftermath of the July, 2018 Mati wildfire which claimed 101 lives and led to the sacking of his predecessor, Konstantinos Tsouvalas.

It is not unlikely that New Democracy leader will quickly replace the top police brass if he is elected prime minister in the 7 July general election.

Flagrant violation of law, police regulation

What distinguishes this case is the fact the very top of the hierarchy of Greek Police and the Coast Guard attended an event in the very centre of Athens that was televised nationwide.

Those in the know say that police brass is up in arms as the presence of...