On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights (MFHR) and the Konstantinos & Artemis Kyriazis Foundation successfully co-organized a conference on the topic “Democracy in the face of contemporary challenges”, at the Goethe Institute Auditorium. A number of members of the judiciary, the academic community, civil society, and students attended the event.
The conference included four thematic sessions, which showcased the influence of political parties on modern democracy and the decisive role of political pluralism, the contemporary challenges facing democracy, as well as the function and limits of institutional checks and balances.
Furthermore, they examined in detail current economic and geopolitical issues and their connection to international security and democracy. Finally, they thoroughly discussed the importance of institutions, justice, and European integration in ensuring the quality of democracy.
During the conference, participants highlighted through lively discussion and audience questions, the need for collective responsibility, the strengthening of trust in institutions, and the revitalization of democratic dialogue.
The MFHR warmly thanks everyone who honored us with their presence and contributed decisively to a particularly lively scientific discussion.
The program of the conference is available here.
A summary of the key conclusions can be found here.
For those who were unable to attend in person, the full video recording of the event is available below.
Date/Time:
25 Nov 2025,
Where:
Goethe Institut, 14-16 Omirou Street, P.C. 106-72 Athens
Speakers:
Greetings: M. Ruotanen, Director General of Democracy and Human Dignity of the Council of Europe, SESSION 1: Political Parties and Political Pluralism, Moderator: P. Pikrammenos, f. Acting Prime Minister, f. Deputy Prime Minister, Honorary President of the Council of State, Speakers: N. Alivizatos, Emeritus Professor, School of Law, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, S. Vlachopoulos, Professor, School of Law, NKUA, Member of the NKUA Administration Council, Y. Drosos, Emeritus Professor, School of Law, NKUA, V. Christou, Assistant Professor, School of Law, NKUA. SESSION 2: Rule of Law and Checks and Balances, Moderator: E. Venizelos, f. Deputy Prime Minister, Emeritus Professor, School of Law, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), Speakers: I. Sarmas, f. Acting Prime Minister, Honorary President of the Court of Audit, L.-A. Sicilianos, Professor, School of Law, NKUA, f. President of the European Court of Human Rights, President of the Marangopoulos Foundation for Human Rights, V. Skouris, Emeritus Professor, School of Law, AUTH, f. President of the Court of Justice of the European Union, President of the Centre of International & European Economic Law, M. Telalian, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. SESSION 3: Economic, Financial and International Perspectives, Moderator: N. Kyriazis, Emeritus Professor, Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, President of the K. & A. Kyriazi Foundation, Speakers: G. Hodgson, Emeritus Professor, Management, Loughborough University, London, L. Katseli, Professor Emerita, Department of Economics, NKUA, f. Minister, Ch. Kollias, Professor, Department of Economics, University of Thessaly, M. Wendt, Head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s Office for Greece and Cyprus, f. Member of the German Bundestag. SESSION 4: Round Table Discussion, Moderator: K. Sakellaropoulou, f. President of the Hellenic Republic, Honorary President of the Council of State, Speakers: G. Karavokyris, Associate Professor, School of Law, AUTH, A. Papahelas, Executive Editor of Kathimerini newspaper, M. Pikramenos, President of the Council of State, Professor, School of Law, AUTH, L. Tsoukalis, Professor at the Paris School of International Affairs, Sciences Po, President of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), Professor Emeritus, NKUA