The question is whether citizens will be able to believe once again that the law is enforced without exceptions and without any gray areas.

We had stated from the outset that the handling of the findings and the timing of the investigation’s completion would determine the state’s institutional credibility. And just when the goal should be to restore trust in the institutions, it is clear that one mistake follows another. 

Seventeen days after the Anti-Corruption Authority’s announcement, the government finally managed to appoint criminal investigators. And almost before the Government Spokesperson had finished speaking, it became clear that there was a conflict of interest regarding the appointment of Mr. Mylonopoulos, who was involved in the Focus case as Zolotas’s attorney.

Inevitably, citizens are wondering: To what can this blunder be attributed? To hasty and careless handling? To thoughtless statements made before all the facts were seriously examined? Whatever the answer, it certainly does not reflect well on the government.

Unfortunately, ever since the day after the report on the “Mafia State” was released, the public has watched in bewilderment as the mechanisms of the state have ground to a halt. We have a General Prosecutor’s Office that has recused itself due to its ties to the former President, essentially admitting its inability to carry out its duties with independence and impartiality. And because of this, a major legal tangle has arisen. We have witnessed questions being raised about the Prosecutorial Council and its composition—not by citizens setting up people’s tribunals, but by distinguished legal experts.  And in the end, we saw the Prosecutor’s Office refuse to conduct the evaluation, instead forwarding the report as is to the Cabinet and the police.

How the findings will be handled and the time it will take to complete the investigations now constitute a critical test for the institutions. The state’s response will determine not only the credibility of the justice system, but also the credibility of the state itself. Because what is truly at stake is not merely whether those responsible will be held accountable. It is whether citizens will be able to believe once again that the law is applied without exceptions, without ambiguity, and without double standards. If this opportunity is also lost, the blow will not be merely a public relations one. It will be a profound institutional one.