Greece’s effort to overhaul its Constitution suffered an early setback on Monday after Parliament’s first vote on a sweeping package of proposed amendments failed to secure the broad cross-party support needed to ease the path for constitutional reform.
The outcome made it increasingly unlikely that any of the proposed revisions will achieve the 180-vote supermajority required at this stage of the process, meaning constitutional amendments approved by the next Parliament would instead require a higher threshold—making meaningful reform significantly more difficult.
Despite the lack of consensus, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended the government’s reform agenda, urging lawmakers to support what he described as a Constitution fit for the challenges of the 21st century.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate marking the 52nd anniversary of the restoration of democracy (Metapolitefsi), Mitsotakis said Greece needed “a Constitution that keeps pace with our times” and argued that constitutional revision should transcend party divisions.
His government has proposed changes to more than 30 constitutional articles, including reforms covering postal voting in national elections, judicial appointments, ministerial accountability, referendums, tax protections, housing policy, and the presidency.
Related: Greece Sets Out 30 Major Constitutional Reform Proposals
Opposition Rejects Government’s Approach
The vote also underscored the deep divide between the governing New Democracy party and the opposition.
Government proposals were supported by New Democracy lawmakers and several independents, while PASOK voted “present” on selected articles where it had submitted its own constitutional proposals and opposed most of the remaining amendments.
PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis accused Mitsotakis of “institutional opportunism,” arguing that constitutional reform should rest on broad political consensus rather than the will of the governing majority alone.
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis countered that the opposition risked derailing reforms widely seen as necessary, including changes to ministerial accountability and the judicial appointment process.
Next Vote Scheduled for August
Parliament is expected to hold a second vote on the proposed constitutional amendments in late August.
Under Greece’s constitutional revision procedure, amendments must be approved in two successive parliaments. Because the proposals appear unlikely to secure the required 180-vote majority in the current Parliament, any eventual constitutional changes would face a more demanding approval threshold in the next legislature, leaving the future of the government’s reform agenda uncertain.
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