Byzantinism, alliances and behind-the-scenes pressure to change camps, indirect political interference, presidential candidates who expect their “friend” politician to win today’s national elections, hoping to strengthen their position and prestige. The University of Athens is going through a funny situation with lots of backstory and intrigue as six university students find themselves in an unprecedented competition to be the best chancellor. As it turned out, the provision of the new law 4957/2022 on universities, according to which six universities were appointed as members of the new 11-member University Governing Council, showed the worst face of ambitious university students. The number six is…even and thus allows for camps of three in favor of two candidates. Thus, there was an equal number of votes, and neither of the two camps backed down. The same thing happened in the universities of the Aegean, Thessaly and Macedonia. In fact, in the Thessaloniki institution, the first elections were declared inconclusive, and after the second elections there was a draw. However, the game has only just begun at the symbolic EKPA and is expected to be tough.

Specifically, out of the 14 professors nominated for 6 positions of internal members of the Council of the University of Athens based on the applied taxonomic voting system, Spyros Vlahopoulos (Faculty of Law), Nikos Tomaidis (Faculty of Science), Dimitris Kainurgios (School of Economics and Political Science), Gerasimos Siassos ( School of Medicine), Athanasia Smirniotu (Science of Physical Education and Sports), Achilleas Haldayakis (School of Philosophy).

Mr. Siassos and Mr. Thomaidis are at the center of the debate, as they are the ones who have announced that they will compete for the post of rector in the elections that will take place when the 11-member Board is formed. That is, when six EKPA professors elect five non-university members (persons from the academic or business world, artists, etc.). Obviously, if a candidate for the position of rector manages to get a majority among six internal members, then he can select external members by targeted voting and, as a result, be elected rector by at least six votes. Five external members in total: Kostas Sinolakis (Academic), Dimitris Nanopoulos (Academic), Stylianos Antonarakis (University of Geneva), Vassilis Vassiliou (Yale), Elias Mosialos (LSE), George Stasinos (TEE), Kyriakos Kenevezos (former Minister of Education and culture of Cyprus, the country’s ambassador to Greece), Nikolaos Koutsias (APIVITA), Dimitris Ladikos (GIOTIS).

However, in order to achieve the election of five external members, the camps of the six internal members of the Council had to come to an agreement. According to K’s information, among 4 other internal members of the Council, Mr. Tomaidis and Mr. Siassos received 2 votes each. Of course, a member is said to be relatively out of touch with the camp to which he is “assigned.” Well, we can say that the ratio is 3-2-1 with the advantage of the Tomaydis team.

EKPA professors talk about the intervention of political departments, even the church, to change the camp of some members of the Council.

Phone calls

Information indicates that each of the two candidates for rectors is trying to join one of the opposing camps. “They constantly call three “opponents” from third parties who have a close relationship with a university council member. I learned that a church agent called a member who has a relationship with him and gracefully invited him to switch sides, ”the ECPA professor told K. “There are interventions even from political offices,” adds another.

In fact, supporters of the candidates for the rectors emphasize the attitude of these two to the Kerameo law, since it is known that there were disagreements and behind-the-scenes consultations with the aim of adopting not a law, but a different system for electing an administration that “serves”. The communication campaign of the two candidates also includes the promotion of their scientific work. Mr. Thomaidis is Professor of Analytical Chemistry and Mr. Siassos is Professor of Cardiology. Of course, few scientists carefully study what the professor did and what is the importance of each scientific step. On the contrary, as a professor at the Philosophical University of Athens told K, “I have heard that the ‘admirers’ exaggerate the work of the two. It’s better for them not to speak big words if they want to convince and create a communication flow in favor of their candidacy.”

The meeting next Tuesday will show whether the processes and consultations of these days will lead to a convergence of positions in favor of the candidate. If this does not happen, then he puts forward a third scenario to choose someone other than Tomaidis – Siasos. It is quite possible that he is the one who seems to have free relations with the two “camps”. The information from “K” states that the university student in question will only accept it if Siassos-Thomaides also agrees. Other information indicates that the government is also quite positive about this scenario.

If there is no consensus, then a dead end is visible and in a month we will be led to new elections.