Greece Approves Landmark Private Universities Bill With 159 Votes

Greece’s parliament approved on Friday the bill that allows private universities to operate in the country amid mass protests. Credit: Prime Minister GR

The Greek Parliament voted in favor of a bill that allows the establishment of private universities in the country.

The historic –and yet controversial– bill was voted in favor by 159 lawmakers out of a total of 300 MPs.

The 158 MPs-strong governing center-right New Democracy party voted en-bloc in favor of the bill, along with another independent MP, H. Katsivardas, bringing the total votes in favor to 159.

The main left-wing opposition SYRIZA party voted against the bill, a stance that was followed by all other opposition parties from across the political spectrum.

The center-left social democrat PASOK party voted against the bill, even though it does not oppose the principle of allowing non-state-run universities from operating in the country. PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis based his decision to vote against the bill on the constitutional ban on private universities that is still in force in Greece.

Androulakis said that his party would like to see a constitutional amendment first.

It has to be noted that Article 16 of the Greek constitution prohibits the establishment of private higher education institutions. In Greece, universities have always been state-owned entities, and their faculty are civil servants, paid by the government.

PM Mitsotakis claims universities bill is ”radical change”

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke on Friday evening in the Greek Parliament in favor of his government’s bill. According to state-run AMNA news agency, Mitsotakis claimed that the bill “is an initiative which primarily strengthens public universities,” adding that ”at the same time, it creates a framework so that non-state, non-profit institutions can finally operate in our country. The new provisions thus acquire a catalytically modernising and European dimension.”

Mitsotakis also said that this bill will offer young Greeks more choices for them to stay in their country to study, instead of moving abroad. He also said that this change will put Greece on the international educational map.

ΒΙΝΤΕΟ: Έτσι έσπασε την πορεία των φοιτητών η Αστυνομία μπροστά στη Βουλή.

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Student protests broke out in Athens against the Universities Bill

Thousands of students from across Greece protested in Athens against the government bill that would allow private universities to operate in the country on Friday. The demonstrators gathered in Syntagma Square opposite the Parliament building to demand “free education for all”.

During the demonstration and at around 16:00 local time on Friday, a small group of protesters clashed with Greek riot police. As a result, nine protesters and seven police officers were injured.

Thousands of Greek students have been peacefully protesting the bill for weeks. The protesters claim that the bill will devalue degrees from public universities and reduce state funding for public education.

Demonstrators, along with left-wing parties in Greece demand the withdrawal of the bill. They argue that the country needs exclusively public and truly free studies as well as an increase in state funding for universities, teachers, staff and infrastructure.

Although private higher education is already legal in Greece, the new law would make degrees from vetted private institutions equivalent to public universities. Overseas universities would be allowed to open branches in Greece using a nonprofit status despite charging tuition fees.

Related:Greece the Only Western Country Which Bans Private Universities

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