Greek parties clash over university law amendment and private university rules

PASOK condemned the recent higher‑education legislation known as the Pierrakakis law, calling it a hybrid model that enables profit‑seeking branches of foreign universities. The party demanded a constitutional revision of article 16 to guarantee that non‑state universities remain non‑profit and to establish a unified academic map centred on strong public universities.

ELAS leader Spyrοs Dritsas also opposed the amendment of article 16, accusing the New Democracy government of commercialising degrees. He called for the abolition of private universities, strengthening secondary education and the public university system, and warned against the “selling of diplomas”. Both PASOK and ELAS rejected the government's unilateral approach and urged a broader political dialogue on the future of Greek higher education.