Greek Constitution of 1975

Greek Constitution of 1975 is the foundational charter of the Hellenic Republic, enacted after the fall of the military junta. It established a strengthened parliamentary republic, delineated fundamental rights and the separation of powers, and has served as the bedrock of Greek democracy for decades. The document was drafted by the Fifth Revisionary Parliament of the Hellenes and promulgated under Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis.

Historical background and drafting process

The constitution was born from the political turmoil following the collapse of the Regime of the Colonels, a period marked by the Athens Polytechnic uprising and the failed 1973 Greek republic referendum. The transitional 1974 Greek republic referendum decisively abolished the Greek monarchy, paving the way for a new democratic framework. The drafting was entrusted to the Fifth Revisionary Parliament of the Hellenes, elected in the first free elections in a decade. Key figures in the process included Constantine Karamanlis of New Democracy, Andreas Papandreou of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement, and legal scholars like Georgios Kassimatis. The assembly worked swiftly, influenced by the need to consolidate democracy and drawing upon previous Greek constitutions, the French Constitution of 1958, and the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Main provisions and structure

The constitution is structured into four major parts. Part One establishes the form of government, declaring Greece a parliamentary republic with sovereignty residing in the Greek people. It vests executive power in the President of Greece and the Government of Greece, led by the Prime Minister of Greece, with the president's role being largely ceremonial. Legislative power is exercised by the Hellenic Parliament, a unicameral body. Part Two extensively catalogues individual and social rights, including protections for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to education, while also recognizing the role of the Greek Orthodox Church. Part Three organizes the state, detailing the functions of the Judicial system of Greece, including the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of Greece, the Council of State, and the Court of Audit. Part Four contains special, final, and transitional provisions.

Amendments and revisions

The constitution includes a rigorous amendment process, requiring two parliamentary votes separated by a general election. It has been revised three times. The first major revision occurred in 1986, under Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, which further limited the powers of the President of Greece, strengthening the parliamentary system. The second revision in 2001, under the government of Costas Simitis, modernized many provisions, enhancing the protection of human rights, data privacy, and the independence of the Judicial system of Greece. The third and most comprehensive revision took place in 2008, during the administration of Costas Karamanlis, which, among other changes, altered the relationship between state and church, reformed university governance, and introduced new economic and environmental principles.

Significance and impact

The constitution is widely regarded as the cornerstone of the Metapolitefsi, Greece's successful transition to stable democracy after the Greek military junta of 1967–1974. It has provided a resilient framework that has guided the country through significant political shifts, including the alternation of power between New Democracy and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement. Its robust bill of rights has been interpreted and enforced by the Council of State and influenced Greece's integration into the European Union and its adherence to the European Convention on Human Rights. While tested by events like the Greek government-debt crisis, the document has remained the supreme law, symbolizing the enduring strength of democratic institutions in modern Greece.

Category:Constitutions of Greece Category:1975 in Greece Category:1975 in law