I talk about Greece's system of government from executive to legislative and how elections work in the country.

1. Post author By Charlie November 12, 2020
The Government System of Greece
theweeklyrambler.com/the-government-system-of-greece/
Greece is a country located in
southeast Europe and is also known
as the Hellenic Republic and Hellas.
The country is bordered with Turkey,
Bulgaria, North Macedonia and
Albania. Greece has a long coastline
and many islands in the Ionian,
Mediterranean, and Aegean Seas. It’s
capital city of Athens is found in the
country’s Attica Region in
Central/Continental Greece.
Greece is seen as the cradle of
Western civilization and also from
which democracy, Western
philosophy, historiography, political
science, scientific and mathematical
principles, Western drama and the
Olympic Games originated from. The country has a long, complex and ancient history
as one of the oldest states in Europe.
The history goes as far back as the 8th Century BC where there were various
independent Greek city-states across the Mediterranean and Black Sea, these were later
united by Phillip II of Macedon in the fourth Century BC, and his son Alexander the
Great conquered much of the ancient world from the East of the Mediterranean all the
way to India. The height of Greek culture and influence was seen during the Hellenistic
Period.
During the 2nd Century BC Greece was annexed by Rome and became an important
part of the Roman Empire and once that collapsed it was then an important part of the
Byzantine Empire, also called the Eastern Roman Empire, the Greek language and
culture was adopted by this Empire. After a long period of time the Empire slowly
crumbled due to Ottoman influence and annexations until eventually in the mid-15th
Century AD the Empire fully fell to the Ottoman Empire.
From 1821 the Greek War of Independence saw a successful revolution against Ottoman
rule and saw Greece emerge as a modern nation state in 1830. Greece then went
through an unstable period, starting with a weak constitutional monarchy, dictatorship,
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2. Nazi occupation during WW2, then a military coup from 1967 which installed a military
junta and led to a crisis which also prompted Turkey to annex part of Cyprus, the crisis
led to the collapse of the Monarchy and the junta and the return of democracy in 1975.
Greece today is an important regional economy and is part of NATO and the European
Union and it adopted the Euro in 2001.
The official language is Greek and the largest religion is Christian Orthodoxy. The
country’s population is over 10,406,000.
Government Type
Greece Coat of Arms.
Greece has a parliamentary representative democratic republic with a President who is
Head of State and a Prime Minister who is Head of Government. There is also a
Unicameral Parliament called the Hellenic Parliament which makes up the legislative
Government, other powers are invested in the Executive Government headed by the
Prime Minister. Multiple parties are allowed.
Note that the constitution was amended in 2019 and important changes regarding this
post include the separation of the President’s election from the dissolution of
Parliament and the Conference of Presidents electing members of independent
authorities via a three-fifth majority rather than a four-fifth one. Greek citizens can also
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3. now submit up to two legislative proposals to the Greek Parliament for discussion as
long as they get at least 500,000 signatures, these bills cannot relate to fiscal, foreign or
defense policy.
The Executive Government
Presidential Mansion in Athens. Photo by Άργος from Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 4.0.Source.
The constitution says that the legislative power is exercised by both the President and
the Parliament and that Executive powers are exercised by both the President and the
Government.
Presidential Absence
If the President is abroad for longer than 10-days, dies, or resigns, is removed from
office or is incapable of discharging his duties then the Speaker of the Parliament will
temporarily replace him or if the Parliament is dissolved the previous Speaker of the last
Parliament, if they cannot, the Cabinet will collectively act as President, the Acting
President/Cabinet will have limited presidential powers.
If the President is unable to discharge duties after a period of 30-days, then the
Parliament will be mandatorily convoked even if it was dissolved, the Parliament will
then decide by a three-fifths majority, if the situation calls for the election of a new
President.
Elections for a new President will take place within 10-days if the Parliament votes to
elect a new one due to the current being unable to discharge duties, elections will also
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4. take place after 10-days due to death, resignation or removal from office.
Presidential Powers/Duties
Most of the President’s Acts/Powers require a counter-signature by the relevant
Minister concerned who will be fully responsible for it and if a referendum on a bill the
counter-signature is required from the Speaker of the Parliament. Without a counter-
signature the President’s acts/powers will have no effect.
Some powers/acts do not require a counter-signature to have effect such as
appointment of the Prime Minister, assignment of an exploratory committee under
some situations stated in the constitution, dissolution of Parliament, return a bill to
Parliament, and staff appointments to the administrative services of the Presidency of
the Republic.
The powers and duties of the President include representing the State internationally,
making declarations of war, concluding treaties of peace, alliance, economic
cooperation and participation in international organizations.
The President appoints the Prime Minister after Parliamentary Elections and appoints
and removes members of the Cabinet and Undersecretaries at the direction of the Prime
Minister. The President relieves the Cabinet from its duties if they resign, or if they lose
the confidence of the Parliament.
The President convokes sessions of Parliament and also extraordinary sessions when he
has judged this to be reasonable. The President can only suspend a parliamentary
session once either by postponing its commencement or adjourning the session, this
cannot go on for longer than 30-days and any further suspensions in the same session
must then have consent from parliament.
The President can dissolve Parliament if two successive Governments have resigned or
lost the confidence of the Parliament and the composition of the Parliament cannot
guarantee governmental stability. The Cabinet can propose the President to dissolve
Parliament if they have lost a vote of confidence. New parliamentary elections are
organised and held after Parliament is dissolved.
The President promulgates legislation passed by the Parliament within one month, but
can choose to send a bill back to Parliament within the time limit, stating the reasons
why. If the Bill is passed again by the parliament via an absolute majority then the
President must promulgate it.
The President issues the decrees needed for the application of legislation passed by
Parliament and promulgated by him.
Extraordinary circumstances allow the President to issue acts of legislative content,
upon the proposal of the Cabinet. These acts are submitted to parliament for ratification
within 40-days. If the acts are not submitted within the time limits or the Parliament
has not ratified them within three months then the acts will cease to have effect.
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5. The President proclaims referendums by decree on crucial national matters following a
resolution voted on by an absolute majority of parliament, which has been taken upon
proposal by the Cabinet.
Two-fifths of Parliament members can also propose a referendum on a passed bill
(excluding fiscal bills) requiring three-fifths of members of parliament to agree, with
the referendum then proclaimed by decree of the President. Only a maximum of two
proposals to hold a referendum on a bill can be introduced in a single parliamentary
term.
The President is also the Commander-in-Chief of the country’s armed forces, exercised
through the Government. The President confers ranks on those serving.
The President appoints and dismisses public servants, in accordance with the law.
The President can pardon, commute or reduce sentences on recommendation from the
Minister of Justice and after consulting with a council composed of a majority of judges.
Consent of Parliament is required to grant pardon to a Minister.
Magistrates are appointed by presidential decree within compliance of the law and
specified qualifications.
Prime Minister and Government
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, who shall be the leader of the party
with an absolute majority of seats after Parliamentary elections. If no party does then
the leader of the party with a relative majority is given an exploratory committee by the
President in order to see if a Government can be formed that enjoys the confidence of
the Parliament.
If a Government fails to form then the exploratory committee will be passed down to the
2nd largest party and then the 3rd largest party to try and form a Government with the
confidence of Parliament, each having three days. If all this fails then the President will
summon all party leaders to confirm if it is impossible to form a Cabinet that enjoys the
confidence of Parliament. In this case the President will attempt to form a multi-party
Cabinet for the purpose of holding parliamentary elections. If this fails then the
President of the Republic shall entrust either the President of the Supreme
Administrative Court or the President of the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court or the
President of the Court of Audit to try and form a Cabinet as widely accepted as possible
for the purpose of dissolving Parliament and holding parliamentary elections.
If the Prime Minister resigns, dies, or is unable to discharge duties due to health
reasons, then the President will appoint a person as Prime Minister who is proposed by
the party’s parliamentary group of which this party is that of the departing Prime
Minister’s, provided they still have an absolute majority of seats, exploratory
committees are used once again otherwise.
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6. The inability for the Prime Minister to discharge duties is ascertained by Parliament in a
special decision which is taken by an absolute majority, when proposed by the
parliamentary group of the Prime Minister’s party. Such a proposal can also be
submitted by at least two-fifths of the members of Parliament.
A Deputy Prime Minister acts as Prime Minister during this time or if one has not been
appointed then there is an order of precedence among the Ministers of Cabinet.
Ministers and Undersecretaries have the right to attend sessions of Parliament and the
right to be heard when requested.
Government and Cabinet
The Cabinet includes the Prime Minister and other Ministers as well as Deputy Prime
Ministers and Ministers and Undersecretaries and constitutes Government. It is
important for the Prime Minister and Cabinet to keep the confidence of the Parliament
to remain in power. After 15-days of the Prime Minister being sworn in the Government
must request a motion of Confidence in Parliament.
The Government can request further motions of Confidence or Parliament can hold one
themselves. Parliament can also withdraw confidence from individual members of
Cabinet via motions of censure, which if adopted will lead to their removal. Both
Motion of Confidence or Censure requires an absolute majority.
Members of Cabinet and Undersecretaries are collectively responsible for general
Government policy.
The Parliament has the power to investigate and prosecute both current and former
members of Cabinet and Undersecretaries, proposed by at least 30-members and
adopted by absolute majority for preliminary investigation/hearing and then another
absolute majority decision to pursue prosecution. A Special Court is set up as specified
in the Constitution to decide on prosecution.
It is the job of the Government to define and direct general policy. The Prime Ministers
directs the actions of the Government and of public services in general, for the
implementation of Government policy within the framework of laws.
Ministers have various powers defined by law and other Ministers may have powers
vested in them by the Prime Minister. Many Ministers are competent to certain
sections/departments of Government and decree regulations and general policy within
them, within the framework of laws.
Emergency Provisions
A state of siege can be declared in cases of war or mobilization owing to external
dangers or an imminent threat against national security, or in the case of an armed coup
aiming to overthrow the democratically elected regime. It is proposed by Cabinet and
given consent by a resolution of Parliament and is imposed either in all of the state or
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7. certain parts. These measures establish extraordinary courts and temporarily suspends
certain rights and guarantees, and gives extra powers to authorities to deal with the
ongoing emergency/threat.
If Parliament is absent or it is impossible to convoke it on time then the State of Siege
comes into effect by Presidential decree at the proposal of the Cabinet and will later be
consented to by Parliament when it is able to meet again.
A state of siege lasts up to 15-days and can be extended by 15-days at a time by consent
of Parliament. Legislative decrees enacted by the President during the State of Siege are
reviewed after its conclusion and are either ended or ratified.
Presidential Removal
The President can be held liable for high treason or intentional violation of the
Constitution. The proposal for charges against the President and to impeach him is
brought forth by at least one-third of members and requires adoption by a two-thirds
majority.
The President will then be suspended from office as a court decides on conviction, if
acquitted the President returns to his office and if convicted the President is removed
from office and elections held to replace him.
The Legislative Government
Hellenic Parliament meeting place. Photo by © Thomas Wolf . CC BY-SA 3.0 DE. Source.
The Hellenic Parliament is the unicameral parliament of Greece and makes up the
country’s legislative government, it currently consists of 300 elected members, its
member number is specified by statute but cannot be over 300 or below 200 members.
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8. The composition of parliament determines the Prime Minister and ruling party and the
composition of the Government Cabinet. The main job of the Parliament is to have
legislation introduced to it, to debate and possibly amend legislation and to either pass
or reject it. The Parliament also gives confidence to the Prime Minister and his/her
Government and gives oversight to its actions. It also votes on the Budget and financial
statement of the State and of Parliament.
Introduction of bills is via Parliament itself or from the Government. Certain Bills have
to be introduced via certain ways, such as bills on Pensions being introduced by the
Finance Minister after opinion from the Court of Audit. Parliament itself cannot
introduce money bills or amendments.
The Parliament adopts its own Standing Orders and via following those Standing
Orders the Parliament will elect a Speaker and other members of the Presidium from
among themselves. The Speaker or a member of the Presidium can be reprimanded at
the suggestion of at least 50 members of the Parliament and if accepted they will be
removed from their positions.
It is the job of the Speaker to regulate debates and ensure rules of the Parliament are
followed. The Speaker and members of the Presidium run the Parliamentary agenda
and administrative duties.
The sessions of Parliament are open to the public unless decided otherwise by members
of the Parliament.
Parliamentary Committees exist and are set-up by Parliament for the effective running
of the Parliament, such as for the examination and processing of Bills. These
committees can request Ministers or Undersecretaries to attend them for issues under
their competence. Investigative Committees can be set-up by the Parliament at the
request of one-fifth of members and adopted by a two-fifths majority or if the
investigative committees will focus on matters of foreign policy or national defense then
an absolute majority is required, these investigative committees will have special
powers to compulsorily summon people and obtain information. The Committees
members must match proportional to the composition of Parliament as much as
possible.
A Section of Parliament exists and is made up proportional to the Parliament that
conducts legislative business during parliamentary recess, although it cannot process
and handle legislation under the strict competence of the Parliament in Plenum.
Other Functions
The Parliament also has other authority, such as changing the boundaries of the
country, which requires them to give consent via an absolute majority and also allowing
foreign military forces to exist, enter, travel over or remain in Greek territory, which the
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9. Parliament gives consent to via an absolute majority. Three-fifths majority in the
parliament is also needed to ratify international treaties and agreements. Parliament
can grant amnesty from political crimes via a three-fifths majority.
Thee Electoral System
Photo by Pitichinaccio and Philly boy 92 from Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 3.0.Source.
Presidential Elections are held every 5-years and the President is elected by the Greek
Parliament. The President is elected through vote by roll call in a special sitting of
Parliament, a candidate requires a two-third majority to win, if that is not reached then
the ballot is repeated after 5-days, if the majority is still not got by any candidate then a
3rd ballot is held after another 5-days, and a candidate will instead only need a three-
fifths majority to win, but again if that is not reached the Parliament will be dissolved
and fresh elections called.
After a new Parliament is in session another ballot is held, candidates are produced via
vote through roll call and one needs a three-fifths majority to win, again if this fails the
ballot is repeated after 5-days and a candidate only needs an absolute majority this time,
once again if this fails to be reached by any candidate another ballot is held after 5-days
between the top two candidates and the winner is by relative majority.
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10. During the above procedure the incumbent President acts as President until a new one
is elected, but will have limited powers, such as not being able to dissolve parliament
(unless procedure of election demands it), cannot dismiss Cabinet or organise a
referendum.
Candidates for President must be a Greek citizen for at least 5-years who has Greek
descent from either the father’s or mother’s line and who is at least 40-years-old and
has the right to vote in elections.
Tenure of the President is extended during times of war.
Parliamentary elections happen every 4-years or sooner if Parliament is dissolved early
for a certain reason. During times of war the term of parliament lasts for the duration.
280 members are elected from multi-seat constituencies and 12 members from a
nation-wide multi-seat constituency via an open party-list proportional representation
system where parties are guaranteed seats for reaching a certain quota of the vote and
finally 8 further members elected from single-seat constituencies using a first-past-the-
post system.
Composition of Parliament determines appointed Prime Minister and composition of
Government Cabinet.
Candidates for Parliament must be a Greek citizen, with the legal capacity to vote and
be at least 25-years old. A number of other restrictions exist related to not being able to
hold certain other offices, or serving in the armed forces or security corps, among other
disqualifications.
To vote one must be a citizen of Greece and be at least 17-years-old. Voting in elections
is compulsory (but not enforced).
Sources
The source for this post comes from Greece’s 1975 Constitution with amendments
through to 2008 (constituteproject.org) with mention of the relevant 2019 amendment
changes. It remains important to conduct cross-research if using this in a serious
capacity as the possibility remains that I may have missed out certain parts and
misinterpreted other things and of course the constitution can be amended and so this
may eventually become outdated.
Amendments to the constitution are proposed by at least 50-members of Parliament
and require a three-fifths majority vote in two separate ballots that are at least 30-days
apart, passage and adoption then requires an absolute majority vote by a newly elected
Parliament and a “special parliamentary resolution” finalizes its entry into force.
Articles of human rights and freedoms and of form of government are unamendable.
Next up will be the government system of Grenada.
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