A group of expatriate communities across the world, sent an open letter to Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, criticizing him for depriving them of the right to vote in the Greek elections from the country where they live.
In a joint letter, the Hellenic Community of Brussels, the Federation of Hellenic Communities of Germany, the Hellenic Community of Amsterdam and the Surrounding Area, the Hellenic Students Association of Cyprus, the Greek Community of Malta, the Greek Community of Norway and the Hellenic Community of Iceland report inter alia that:
“We asked for the self-evident right to be allowed to vote in these national elections from our place of residence… Today’s legislation creates unfair conditions for the vast majority of Greeks living and working abroad.”
“Your government was committed to bringing a draft law on the issue by the end of January,” the letter further says. “You did not fulfill your commitment and we rightly feel cheated. It was up to you to give voting rights to all Greeks living abroad from their place of residence. No excuses, no delays, no loopholes. That was truly fair. And you did not do it”.
The expatriates also argue that the European Union dictates that nationals living in another country have the right to vote for the European Parliament elections in their place of residence, so why not vote for government of their homeland?
They maintain that they were forced to leave their country to find work to support their families and that they pay their tax dues to Greece as well, so they have the right to have a say on their country’s politics.
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