Academic resigns from panel on Constitution after first day

An academic who was appointed to a committee formed by the government to explore possible changes to the Greek Constitution has resigned a day after the panel’s first meeting.

Petros Pararas, a constitutional law professor and an honorary vice president at the Council of State, quit after saying that he had made himself available to join a committee of experts, which is to be formed in the future, and not a panel aimed at fostering dialogue, like the one created by the government.

However, Pararas had earlier been accused by independent MP Haris Theoharis of having been on a committee put together by the 1967-74 military dictatorship to make changes to the Constitution.

Pararas denied the accusation, while the government pointed out that he had been a member of a panel of experts that drew up legislation while New Democracy was in power and Costas Karamanlis was prime minister between 2004 and 2009.