Greece’s ruling party has presented a broad constitutional reform framework built around 30 proposed changes, opening a political debate on the future structure of the state, education, justice, public administration, taxation, digital policy and democratic governance.
The governing party presented the proposals to members of its parliamentary group as a basis for further discussion before the formal constitutional revision process begins.
The reform package aims to create a more functional democracy for the present and the future, with changes ranging from artificial intelligence and climate policy to ministerial accountability, postal voting, public-sector evaluation and the operation of political parties.
Artificial intelligence and digital rights among Greece’s constitutional reform proposals
One of the most modern elements of the reform plan concerns artificial intelligence. The proposal would introduce a constitutional reference, either through Article 5, Article 5A or a new Article 5B, stating that AI must serve individual freedom and social welfare.
The provision aims to ensure that Greece uses the advantages of artificial intelligence responsibly while limiting its risks through constitutional safeguards.
Media rules and journalist protection
The proposals for Articles 14 and 15 focus on the media environment, including the press, television, radio and the internet.
The reform framework calls for a clearer and more rational regulatory system for media and online communication. It also seeks stronger protection for journalists, including safeguards in relation to their employers, strengthening the independence of journalistic work.
Greece’s constitutional reform plan for education and universities
Article 16 forms one of the central parts of the proposed reform. The plan gives the state responsibility for protecting, cultivating and promoting the Greek language, while also protecting the Greek flag constitutionally as a symbol of the Greek nation and Greek culture.
The proposal would also increase compulsory education from the current nine years to at least 11 years.
In higher education, the reform would allow university-level institutions to operate either as public entities or as non-state, non-profit institutions. These institutions would have full self-governance, operate under the supervision of an independent authority and meet high academic standards.
Property rights, housing and social policy
The proposed changes to Article 17 would simplify the wording on property rights while expanding protection beyond traditional ownership. The revised provision would also cover assets such as shares, bonds, intellectual property, industrial property and trademarks.
The proposal also provides compensation when the state restricts property use without formal expropriation. It includes the possibility of transferring building rights as part of a more flexible urban planning model, while also allowing the use of abandoned buildings for social purposes.
Article 21 would introduce explicit state responsibility for affordable housing. It would also incorporate the principles of intergenerational justice and solidarity.
Climate, energy and environmental protection
Article 24 would include measures addressing climate change, the effective management of water resources and the expansion of renewable energy sources.
The proposal would also introduce the principle of environmental balance in every state intervention and add constitutional protection for animals.
Political parties and election rules
The reform plan would change Article 29 by requiring political parties to organize and operate democratically. The law would define the conditions for establishing and operating a political party.
The Supreme Special Court under Article 100 would check whether parties meet the requirements to participate in elections. Article 51 would expand postal voting, allowing voters inside Greece, not only voters abroad, to cast their ballots by mail. Article 54 would require the electoral system to ensure both reasonable proportionality and the country’s governability. It would also allow the country to be divided into smaller and larger electoral districts.
Article 55 would lower the age of eligibility for election to Parliament to 21. It would also suspend military service obligations for as long as a person holds parliamentary office.
Greece’s reform proposals for the presidency and Parliament
Article 30 would introduce a single six-year term for the President of the Republic, with transitional arrangements for the sitting president. Article 41 would remove the possibility of dissolving Parliament on the grounds of a national issue of exceptional importance.
Instead, Parliament could dissolve itself following a government proposal and a parliamentary decision to renew the popular mandate. Article 44 would introduce clearer rules for referendums. The question would have to use clear and understandable language for citizens. At least 20 days would also have to pass between the announcement of the referendum and the vote.
MPs, incompatibilities and better lawmaking
The proposals for Articles 56 and 57 would remove the detailed constitutional list of obstacles and incompatibilities affecting parliamentary candidates. Instead, the Constitution would set general principles, while the law would regulate the details. These rules would apply from the next-but-one election, or immediately if Parliament approves them by a two-thirds majority.
Article 60 would strengthen the institutional role of MPs when they carry out legislative and oversight duties and communicate with their constituencies, in line with the Constitution and Parliament’s rules.
Article 73 would constitutionally protect principles of good lawmaking. These include sufficient pre-legislative consultation, evaluation of how laws apply in practice and measures to codify legislation.
Taxation and fiscal accountability
Article 78 would prohibit the retroactive imposition of taxes or any other financial burden. It would also allow incentives for stable tax treatment for private investments considered strategic for the national economy.
Article 79 would require the state budget to ensure fiscal balance between revenue and expenditure, as well as sustainable fiscal operation.
Entities funded directly or indirectly by the state budget would also have to submit and publish annual reports.
Government structure and ministerial liability
Article 81 would allow the law to introduce a functional incompatibility between the roles of MP and minister, along with temporary replacement arrangements. It would also allow the appointment of deputy prime ministers and non-ministerial figures. Article 82 would introduce constitutional rules for good government operation.
One of the most significant institutional changes concerns Article 86 on ministerial liability. The proposal would remove Parliament’s authority to conduct preliminary investigations into ministers.
Instead, a Court of Appeals prosecutor would conduct preliminary investigations, while a Supreme Court prosecutor would recommend whether authorities should bring charges. An alternative option would assign a preliminary assessment of ministerial criminal responsibility to a mixed judicial-political body.
Any decision to prosecute would still require a vote in Parliament, with an absolute majority of all MPs and a roll-call vote.
Judiciary and constitutional review
Article 89 would allow judges, under an implementing law, to take on special administrative duties by parliamentary decision. However, judges would not be allowed to participate in government, hold political posts or serve in independent authorities for at least three years after retirement.
Article 90 would change the appointment process for senior judges. A special parliamentary committee would make promotions to the highest judicial posts, without government involvement.
The committee would choose from among the most senior judges, based on lists of three candidates for each position proposed by the relevant court plenaries. Article 100 would reshape the Supreme Special Court.
It would have a three-year term and consist of nine members: the presidents of the three supreme courts, two judges elected by the plenary of the Council of State, two judges elected by the plenary of the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court, and two full professors of law selected by the other members.
The court would also gain the power to carry out preventive review of constitutionality and compatibility with European Union law for bills already passed by Parliament, except those concerning only the ratification of international treaties.
The President of the Republic, the prime minister or Parliament could request such review up to two times per parliamentary session.
If the court finds a bill unconstitutional or incompatible with EU law, the state could not issue the law. If the court finds it constitutional, that decision would bind the courts after the law enters into force.
Constitutional reform in Greece and independent authorities
Article 101 would revise the decentralization model by removing the presumption of competence in favor of decentralized administrations. The decentralized system could operate either through decentralized state structures or through decentralized services of ministries and other public-sector bodies.
The same article would introduce state responsibility for supporting the primary sector and regional development, with the goal of ensuring equal access to public goods across the country.
It would also constitutionally protect the principles of good administration, transparency, accountability and meritocracy, while giving constitutional status to the National Transparency Authority.
Article 101A would change the appointment process for the presidents and members of independent authorities. A parliamentary committee would select them from a list of three candidates proposed by an expert council after an open public call for expressions of interest.
The expert council would include, ex officio, the head of the National Transparency Authority, the president of the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection, the governor of the Bank of Greece, the president of the Rectors’ Conference and the head of the collective body representing either first- or second-level local authorities.
Local government and public consultation
Article 102 would allow the law to determine the levels of local government, with a maximum of two. Local authorities would be able to impose local or special taxes and charges through decisions of their competent bodies.
Their budgets would have to be prepared after sufficient public consultation with residents and would need to ensure fiscal balance. The Supreme Special Court would impose disciplinary penalties, such as suspension or removal from office, on elected local officials.
Civil service evaluation and accountability among Greece’s constitutional reform proposals
Article 103 would redefine the concept of permanence in the civil service. The law would set the procedure and criteria for evaluating public employees, as well as the rewards and penalties that may result from the evaluation, including final dismissal following a decision by the relevant service council.
Rewards would be linked to qualifications and performance. Public servants would be evaluated on the basis of impartiality, neutrality, professional competence and efficiency, with the possible participation of the Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection.
The evaluation system would also work in both directions. Subordinates would be able to evaluate supervisors, while citizens would be able to evaluate public servants more broadly.
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