Economist: Greece Moves Up 9 Spots in EIU Democracy Index

Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

Greece moved up nine spots in the EIU Democracy Index 2022, making the most notable overall improvement and very near to being upgraded to a “full democracy”, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) report released this week.

More specifically, Greece’s overall score improved this year to 7.97 from 7.56 in 2021, in 25^th spot in the global ranking from 34^th spot a year earlier making the country one of the best performers in the index, said EIU analysts.

Greece recorded the fifth-biggest increase in score compared to all the other countries included in the index with improvements in most categories of the 2022 index.

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit.

Among others, progress made in the electoral process and pluralism category, driven by efforts to encourage political participation and facilitate the diaspora vote help boost Greece score.

The country fared “markedly” well also in terms of government operation thanks to the end of the post-bailout enhanced surveillance regime.

Additionally, Greece also effectively managed the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, said the report, helping to restore public trust in political parties and government, which had been shattered after the 2010 economic crisis.

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit.

“Greece’s tourism industry, the mainstay of the economy, could have been permanently scarred if the pandemic had been mishandled. Instead, in 2022 tourism rebounded strongly, returning almost to pre- pandemic record levels,” said the report.

Commenting on the news, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said Greece’s new ranking in the EIU Democracy Index was attributed to the success of government policies concerning pandemic management, an effective vaccination campaign and the “remarkable” recovery of tourism.

According to EIU analysts, the Greek government also handled the economic fallout from the Russia-Ukraine war last year in a way that steered clear of social and political polarization.

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit.

Another reason Greece moved up in the index is the country’s organized an effective vaccination campaign and its quick response – “faster than most other countries” – to lift Covid-related restrictions, resulting in improved scores on several indicators in 2022.

On the downside, Greece is penalized in the 2022 index with regard to freedom of the press. “There is freedom of expression in Greece, but there is evidence to suggest that journalists are not free to investigate uncomfortable truths. There is considerable censorship on issues related to the police, the army and the church, and journalists often face harassment, threats and violence,” said the report, also referring to an August 2022 wiretapping scandal.

Overall, Greece together with Thailand, Angola, Niger and Montenegro were the Top 5 best overall performers while Russia, Burkina Faso, Haiti, El Salvador and Tunisia were the worst.