Greece has slipped to 48th out of 143 countries in the World Justice Project’s (WJP) 2025 Rule of Law Index, placing it 29th among 31 European nations – ahead only of Bulgaria and Hungary. The report, released in Washington, highlights a deepening global crisis in democratic accountability, with Greece showing clear signs of institutional erosion.
This year’s findings confirm an accelerating worldwide “recession in the rule of law,” with 68% of countries recording declines – the highest rate since the index began in 2009. WJP experts describe a “systemic crisis of democratic accountability” affecting both developed and developing nations.
For Greece, the report signals a shrinking public space. Key indicators for freedom of expression, assembly, and civic participation have worsened, aligning with a broader pattern of authoritarian backsliding. “The decline in freedom of opinion and limited citizen engagement undermine the foundations of democracy and increase the risk of political influence over the judiciary,” the report warns.
Justice System Under Strain
Greece ranks 55th globally in criminal justice and 50th in civil justice, plagued by delays, growing interference, and reduced judicial independence. The WJP notes that “political influence and procedural delays are intensifying,” while courts’ ability to check government power weakens – a trend seen in 61% of indexed countries.
Recent Greek experiences – from protracted trials to interventions in judicial leadership – mirror these findings. Despite repeated reform pledges, the system remains slow, ineffective, and vulnerable to political and economic pressures.
Security: Greece’s Weakest Link
The country performs worst in Order and Security, ranking 71st globally and last in Europe. Delayed justice, ineffective law enforcement, and low public trust in security forces drive this poor showing. The report links these issues to inconsistent crime strategies, neighbourhood insecurity, and staffing shortages in police services – feeding a cycle of distrust and institutional devaluation.
Transparency and Open Governance Lag
Greece also underperforms in transparency (53rd) and open government (41st). Citizens face barriers to public data, opaque state procurement, and weak accountability mechanisms. Despite digital progress, government decision-making remains unaccountable, and journalists investigating corruption face ongoing risks. As the WJP stresses: “Laws alone are not enough; consistent enforcement is required.” Greece continues to fall short.
A Divided Europe
In 2025, the rule of law declined in over two-thirds of EU countries, with Bulgaria and Hungary at the bottom. Denmark, Norway, and Finland maintain top global rankings, while Ireland and Poland show notable improvement.
WJP Index Director Alicia Evangelides told Euronews: “The global trend is toward fewer constraints on government power and erosion of fundamental rights.” She highlighted Ireland and Poland as positive exceptions, improving across all areas.
For Greece, the picture is cautionary rather than condemnatory. Democratic institutions function but with diminishing resilience. Judicial delays, weak accountability, and reduced civic engagement create an environment of gradual institutional decay.
The WJP report serves as a mirror to a society that remains democratic – yet less open, less fair, and less trusting of its institutions. Amid a Europe testing the limits of liberal democracy, Greece faces a critical choice: confront chronic rule-of-law deficiencies or accept a slide into a managed democracy without real accountability.
As the report concludes: “The resilience of democracies is not judged by the laws they enact, but by the consistency with which they apply them.” For Greece, that challenge remains urgent and unresolved.
(Source: To Vima)