Another Greek education reform bill was passed through the Parliament on Thursday, Reuters has learned. The law attempts to address the problem of university security in the country.
In its efforts to strengthen the universities security, 166 lawmakers voting for the bill, while 132 voted against. All opposition parties preferred to reject the bill, saying that the controversial provision that would allow police to patrol university campuses.
According to the MPs, schools will close their door to violence, opening the door to freedom.
Additionally, the bill also introduces a minimum entry requirement and maximum periods for students to complete their degrees.
“Our intention is to give state-run universities back to their natural owners – the students, the professors and university employees,” PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament.
The approved bill legislates for controlled access to university premises to prevent, as he said, turning them into “safehouses” for marginal groups.
The Greek opposition says PM imposes ‘a regime of fear’
Meanwhile, student organizations and opposition parties believe that the conservative government displays authoritarian tendencies and intends to silence critical thought and free expression by policing the universities.
Main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras described the bill as “monument to authoritarianism.”
“You are taking advantage of the crisis to impose a regime of fear and surveillance,” he told Mitsotakis.
