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Government Presents Proposals for Constitutional Review

TSIPRAS
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government’s position on the new constitution ahead of planned reforms. He invited party leaders to attend his meeting at the courtyard of the Greek Parliament, however, he was snubbed by all leaders except the Union of Centrists’ party leader Vasilis Levendis.
Addressing the crowd in front of three slogans — “New Constitution” “New Post-Junta (Environment)” “New Greece.” Taking the podium he unveiled his vision for “Greece 2021,” while outlining his views for the future. He called for “wide, open and fruitful dialogue on the constitution of a new Greece” but the leaders of the main opposition conservative New Democracy Party and socialist PASOK were missing from the audience.
In his speech he said that 42 years following the reinstatement of democracy, an era is closing having offered “a long period of social peace and a state with pathogens.”
“The requirement, today, for a productive reshuffling requires institutional and political change in the country,” he said, adding that the only way to exit the crisis is to be done with all that has brought us to dire straits, and to change the state with dialogue for a new Constitution that will lead Greece to 2021. “In essence, we are calling all citizens for a revolution in democracy,” he said, while expressing the need for all to join in the discussion on the Greece they would like. Discussion would be widespread and in September, the new composition of the committee for open dialogue on the new Constitution will be set up.
The first stage of the crisis would be dialogue with municipalities around Greece as well as social institutions, citizens movements as well as the public at large. Through the creation of a special website, citizens will be able to submit their proposal. Thirteen groups will be created for each area around Greece so that by Spring 2017 the central organization for public dialogue will be able to create a report that will be shared with all the country’s political groups.
Tsipras suggested the possibility of a referendum on crucial issues when more than 500,000 citizens’ signatures are collected regarding a proposal. He suggested the institutionalization of appointments of ministers for two continuous parliamentary cycles or eight years.
In a Nutshell:

Design

  •  constructive vote of mistrust to accompany proposals for new prime ministers
  •  election of President from the people if Parliament fails to elect one after two consecutive votes.
  • an increase in the president’s duties, and the right to address Parliament and call a council of political leaders as well as direct law to a special body of judges.
  • No deputy will be able to be voted in for a longer period than two consecutive terms or eight consecutive years.
  • Prime ministers should be elected directly from the people, except in the cases of transitional leaders.

Institutions

  • Obligation to sanction any condition that transfers a state’s rights by referendum.
  • The ability to call for a referendum if more than 500,000 signatures are gathered on a national matter and one million signatories required in the case of changes to be made to a national law, with the exception of fiscal law.

State justice

  • A special body for constitutional review made up of higher judges following the proposal of the president or 120 government deputies to decide on laws.
  • Abolition of political asylum
  • Restructuring the legislation on ministerial responsibility.
  • Independent authorities will be created smaller majorities when 4/5 are not gathered by a particular time.
  • The protection of the religious neutrality of the state while keeping recognition of Orthodoxy as the main religion for historical and practical reasons.

Social rights

  • A ban to the lifting of public control of goods such as water and electric energy.
  • A clear and effective fortification of collective negotiations as the only means of setting wages.

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