Greek television presenter Giorgos Liagkas engaged in a fierce on-air argument with regional primary education director Dionysis Anastasopoulos before cutting off his live broadcast. The confrontation occurred during a broadcast of the morning show To Proino following an incident involving a primary school teacher in Ano Liosia.
The debate quickly escalated after Anastasopoulos outlined the official state response to video footage showing the teacher shouting at young pupils in class.
Anastasopoulos stated that education authorities had referred the case to both the Prosecutor of the Athens Court of First Instance and the Prosecutor for Minors against all responsible parties. He added that an official sworn administrative inquiry had been ordered to establish liability on all sides, emphasizing that an organized state must assign responsibility through established legal channels.
In Greek public administration, a sworn administrative inquiry, known as an EDE, is a formal internal investigation used by government ministries and state bodies to evaluate misconduct before taking disciplinary action. The Prosecutor of the Athens Court of First Instance and the Prosecutor for Minors handle judicial oversight, criminal referrals, and child protection matters across the capital region.
Liagkas immediately interrupted the education official, arguing that the responsibilities of those who received the attack were obvious because people should not be struck. He pressed Anastasopoulos to address whether the woman had received a green light from the state to teach young children, pointing out that in the illegal video footage she appeared incapable of teaching children, and asked if the director disagreed with that assessment.
Education inquiry sparks debate
When Anastasopoulos stated that appropriate measures would be taken once the administrative inquiry concluded, Liagkas urged him to set aside the official investigation. Liagkas asked the director directly for his personal assessment after viewing the illegal video, stating that in his opinion the director's cautious stance did not reflect well on him.
Anastasopoulos countered that Liagkas's own stance did not honor him because the presenter wanted to issue an immediate condemnatory verdict on television without waiting for due process.
To Proino is a long-running morning news and entertainment program broadcast nationally across Greece, featuring current affairs coverage, panel discussions, and public interest stories. Liagkas, a veteran broadcaster with four decades of media experience, host of To Proino, is known for his assertive presentation style and opinion-driven interviews.
The argument turned personal when Liagkas defended his right to criticize public officials on air. He asserted that it was his opinion and he would state it, noting he had been paid for forty years to express his opinion, and asking Anastasopoulos whether the education director was paying his salary.
Controversy over classroom video
Anastasopoulos attempted to defend the educator's career, noting her classroom service and her contributions to Greek society in recent years. Liagkas strongly rejected this defense, questioning where her contribution lay when she cursed and asked young children whether they were going to make things a mess using explicit profanity.
Anastasopoulos accused the program of creating a kangaroo court, mocking state authorities, and forgetting that laws exist. He added that the presenter could not act as a member of a court while state officials work daily to navigate administrative bureaucracy.
Ano Liosia is a suburban town located in West Attica, situated northwest of central Athens. Public schools in the municipality operate under the supervision of the regional primary education directorate, which manages teacher staffing, administrative oversight, and disciplinary procedures for elementary schools in the district.
Liagkas rejected the accusation of running a kangaroo court, stating that he was highlighting wrongdoings. He told Anastasopoulos to stop philosophizing, arguing that television does not issue verdicts but has a duty to highlight wrongdoings and call out the state, describing this as the core role of journalists. The confrontation concluded abruptly when Liagkas gave instructions to terminate the live connection, wishing Anastasopoulos well, thanking him, and telling technical staff that he did not want him on air anymore and to cut him off.
