Pikramentos: Judges Must Address Delays Before Expecting Pay Rises

Michalis Pikramentos, President of the Council of State, addressed the General Assembly of the Association of Administrative Judges with a clear statement: “Society cannot be in turmoil due to long delays in decisions while we, the judges, remain indifferent.” He stressed that unless the time it takes to issue judicial decisions improves, judges have no right to demand salary increases. Pikramentos emphasized the need for judges to take responsibility for reducing delays, as these affect the public’s trust in the judicial system.

The Government’s Focus on Legal Reform and Efficiency

In his speech, Deputy Minister of Justice Ioannis Bougas highlighted that delays in the judicial process are reaching a point where justice itself is being denied. He argued that such delays serve as an obstacle to both economic development and social well-being. Bougas also pointed out the importance of modernising both substantive and procedural laws to create a faster, more efficient judicial system. He stated that ensuring the quality and speed of judicial work is essential, a goal both the Ministry of Justice and individual judges should share.

Pikramentos further emphasized that the Ministry of Justice is working on improving court infrastructure, expanding digital services, and advancing legislative initiatives to address these challenges. He stressed that judges must do everything in their power to reduce delays, highlighting that the public views them as essential state bodies. He also called for long-term planning and goal setting in administrative courts to help reduce pending cases and improve the speed of justice delivery.

The Association’s response: judicial salaries and working conditions

In response to the government’s position, Panagiotis Danias, President of the Association of Administrative Judges, raised concerns about judicial salaries. He called on the government to adopt the best European practices through constructive dialogue with judicial unions. Danias acknowledged that discussing salaries at every term is not ideal, but stressed that these matters must be addressed, especially when judges are required to serve away from their homes for up to two years.

Demands for Pay Reforms and Solidarity Contributions
The Association is calling for the reinstatement of the 13th and 14th-month pay across the public sector. In addition, they are seeking the abolition of the solidarity contribution for unemployment, which was introduced when unemployment was 25%, but is still being collected despite the current rate of 10%. Danias argued that the state cannot ask for the solidarity of public servants during difficult times and then, when the economy improves, fail to reduce those burdens, all while ignoring the situation and waiting for judicial decisions to take action,” added Mr. Danias. Rather than waiting for judicial decisions to act, he suggested that the government should take a more proactive approach.

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