Greek lawmakers on Thursday backed several amendments to the constitution which may be reviewed during the next parliamentary session.
A second and decisive parliamentary vote on the the number of articles to be reviewed will take place in March.
The proposals were backed by either a 150+ majority or a two-thirds-plus majority of more than 180 parliamentary MPs.
Among those backed by more than 180 votes were changes proposed by the governing SYRIZA party for separating the election of the president from the dissolution of parliament.
Lawmakers also agreed to amend safeguards shielding ministers and MPs from prosecution. The old measures have proved to be a major stumbling block in pursuing several high-profile graft cases dating back to the early 2000s.
Under the current rules, ministers cannot be prosecuted if two parliamentary terms have passed since the alleged infraction occurred.
However, lawmakers dealt a blow to the government by rejecting its proposal for the country’s president to be elected directly by the people. The direct-voting amendment had been considered the centerpiece of its proposed constitutional changes.
Opposition New Democracy Party’s proposal to revise Article 16 of the Constitution, which bans the operation of private universities, did not attract adequate support for passage.
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