Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comGreeceGreece Plans Easier Immigration Code

Greece Plans Easier Immigration Code

Greece-Plans-Easier-Immigration-CodeAmidst criticism from human rights organizations that Greece has not treated immigrants properly, Deputy Minister of Interior Leonidas Grigorakos said the government is readying a code to cut red tape in applying for citizenship and allow thousands of migrant workers travel to other EU member states in search of employment.
Additionally, the long-term residence permits will allow the Greek-born children of migrants to decide whether to accept Greek citizenship or not when they turn 18. Ironically, it comes right after the country’s highest court approved the government’s stripping second-generation immigrants born in Greece of voting rights and other benefits for citizens.
Regarding the right to vote in local government elections, Grigorakos admitted that “since they have legal rights, I believe that they must vote. We will truly make an effort to reduce to a bare minimum the number of people who don’t have a right to vote, with respect of course to the State Council’s decision.”
He didn’t explain the contradiction about why he said immigrants with legal residency should vote when the government and court said they can’t.
Data submitted in Parliament by the Deputy Minister stated that there are 473,424 legally-residing immigrants n Greece, some 232,000 of whom are bsed in Attica, Thessaloniki and Halkidiki. If the new Code is ratified, then a further 33,000 will receive residence permits but they still won’t be allowed to vote.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, now overseeing a fragile coalition of his New Democracy Conservatives and the PASOK Socialists, had a campaign platform in 2012 going after illegal immigrants.

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts