Author | Lightnews

Akritas Kaidatzis

@akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social

310 followers 460 following 180 posts

Ass. professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Law School Constitutional law; Constitutional History; Law and Politics; Courts and Politics; Judicial Review of Legislation

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · Nov 14

Our edited volume
"The People's Constitution: The Populist Transformation of Constitutional Law"

link.springer.com/book/9783031...

Forthcoming in December

3 6

Reposted by Akritas Kaidatzis

Pavlos Roufos @proufos.bsky.social · 2h

Legal theorists and friends should come clean and admit that the suspension of the rule of law is *not* a matter of law but of an authoritative political decision - it cannot, therefore, be reversed by relying on ... the rule of law. Schmitt articulated it first but everyone knows it.

2 4 9

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 3d

< Thus, the court concluded, despite the literal ban on private universities, a statute enabling their establishment is not unconstitutional.
The clause was effectively made null.

What comes next?
My guess would be hollowing out constitutional clauses on the protection of labour and unions

1 1

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 3d

Reverse originalism and neoliberalism

The 🇬🇷 Council of State said in a recent opinion that the 🇬🇷 Constitution contains clauses that we should not take literally because they were shaped by the special circumstances of democratic transition after the military dictatorship that no longer apply. >
1/2

1 1

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 5d

Apparently, the Republic of #Ireland will continue to spare (comparative) constitutional lawyers the embarassement of not knowing something meaningful to answer to the dreadful question: What does a president of the republic *actually* do in a parliamentary democracy?
Well done, folks!

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 7d

Constitutionalists keep saying that the constitution *protects*, *guarantes*, *prohibits* this or that.
No it doesn't. It's but a piece of paper. It cannot act.
It is always a person or body of persons or, ultimately, the people that act in the name of it.
It's useful to bear the distinction in mind

4 9

Reposted by Akritas Kaidatzis

Robert L. Tsai @robertltsai.bsky.social · 11d

“Increasing numbers of political leaders and citizens are now willing to tolerate authoritarian practices in exchange for better protection of their security, social benefits, and political status. It’s this support for creeping autocracy … that must be addressed.”

Can Judicial Resistance Last?

The law can protect democracy—but only up to a certain point. After that, it’s up to the people. And there’s the challenge.

bit.ly

1 2 6

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 12d

No kings!

(OK, maybe one exception)

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 14d

< Needless to say, what is *really* irrational is the #HousingCrisis itself, the governments that allow or promote it, and the interests that these governments favor.

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 14d

#HousingCrisis affects an unprecedented number (& percentage) of people.
Governments doing close to nothing about it --when they don't actively promote it-- is one of the reasons why people are turning to right-wing populists, the far right, or whatever liberal centrists deem as "irrational". >

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 17d

No kings

(OK, with one exception)

1 2

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 18d

Centrists have a disproportionate influence on public opinion making.
Problem is not they totally miss the point about the causes of democratic decline -after all, that's just my opinion- but that they're so sure about being right that they become fanatic.
Liberal fanatic: oxymoron but, sadly, true

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 18d

It says something about the state of representative democracy when a party membership of 100,000 is considered massive in countries the size of UK (or England)

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 18d

Green party reaches 100,000 members for first time after Polanski becomes leader

Green party in England and Wales has had near-50% rise in membership since Zack Polanski took over last month The Greens in England and Wales have more than 100,000 members for the first time, the party has announced, a near-50% rise since Zack Polanski took over as leader last month. It puts them on a potential course to overtake the Conservatives and comes little more than a week after the Greens announced they had moved past the Liberal Democrats in membership numbers, getting to 83,500. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 18d

I believe Jack Balkin said something similar some time ago

jackbalkin.yale.edu/populism-and...

Populism and Progressivism as Constitutional Categories– Part I | Jack M. Balkin

jackbalkin.yale.edu

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 18d

While I consider myself a (left-)populist, I have to admit this is a valid and most thought-provoking critique.

It's super difficult (not impossible, though, I hope) to forego one's own privilege (class, race, gender, education etc.) even when talking against those very privileges.

Well said.

Lawprofblawg @lawprofblawg.bsky.social · 18d

I'm not quite eloquently putting this right, but one of the problems with people on the left/populists is that the very class structures they opposed shaped and defined them in terms of quests for invidious distinctions. So you get a lot of replication of the dominant hierarchical structure.

1 1 2

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 19d

Seriously, now:
How different is the US from Venezuela?
And is it a difference in kind or in degree?

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 19d

Extreme cases of autocratization or democratic backsliding should not distract us from relatively "lighter" ones.
Same with judicial politicization and usurpation of political power.
#Juristocracy *is* a global trend.
That the US pose a grotesque extreme doesn't mean it's not happening elsewhere

1 4 7

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 20d

My own private Idaho.
Qatari style

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 21d

Hegseth: "I'm also proud that today we're signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emeri air force facility at the Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho."

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 20d

For us non-native speakers, the association between con artists and con law begins to become apparent

Reposted by Akritas Kaidatzis

Ewan McGaughey @ewanmg.bsky.social · 21d

🌹 "Democratic socialism and the law" is the topic of my inaugural lecture - next Wednesday 6.30pm, Great Hall, King's College, London.

➡️ Come along! There's even a reception afterwards. Check out the abstract, and register free here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/inaugural-...

1 4 9

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 21d

Let us know when you do 😀

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 21d

Cool photos!
Are you exhibiting?

1 1

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 21d

For context:
www.academia.edu/22225287/Dem...

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 21d

It's funny how people believe that *more courts* will protect us from authoritarianism.
What we need is *less rich people* instead.
Liberal democracies would operate best if we could kill the rich. Since we cannot, we should strip them off of any political right.
Make their money illegal in politics

5 5

Reposted by Akritas Kaidatzis

Robert L. Tsai @robertltsai.bsky.social · 27d

My new essay (with Bojan Bugaric): “How long can judicial resistance last when it is to come from unelected lower court judges, if it comes at all? We believe that the momentary flurry of judicial activity is fool’s gold.”

Can Judicial Resistance Last?

The law can protect democracy—but only up to a certain point. After that, it’s up to the people. And there’s the challenge.

democracyjournal.org

3 17 53

Akritas Kaidatzis @akritaskaidatzis.bsky.social · 27d

A member of the Greek Parliament being detained by Israeli defense forces with no reaction whatsoever by the Hellenic "Republic", incl. GR Parliament itself, is proof enough that the latter is but a sham institute, only there to rubber-stamp autocratization.

So much for "parliamentary" democracy