Government and Politics of Greece

Government Type

parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Administrative Divisions

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

Legal System

based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Greece dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU (since 13 March 2020) head of government: Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 8 July 2019; reappointed 26 June 2023 following legislative elections) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: President elected by parliament for a five-year term; election last held 22 January 2020 (next to be held in 2025); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; the president appoints the leader of the party securing a plurality of votes in the legislative election to become prime minister and form a government election results: Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU elected president; she is the first woman to hold the office; received 261 out of 300 parliamentary votes

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms). Greece uses a reinforced proportional representation system, with a bonus of seats awarded to the party receiving the most votes. Elections: Most recent elections held on 21 May 2023, with a second election following on 25 June 2023 after no party was able to form a governing coalition following the first round. Election results (June 2023): Percent of vote by party — New Democracy (ND) 40.6%, SYRIZA 17.8%, PASOK-KINAL 11.9%, Communist Party (KKE) 7.7%, Spartiates 4.7%, Elliniki Lysi 3.7%, Niki 3.7%, Plefsi Eleftherias 3.2%; seats by party — ND 158, SYRIZA 48, PASOK-KINAL 32, KKE 21, Spartiates 13, Elliniki Lysi 10, Niki 10, Plefsi Eleftherias 8. New Democracy, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, secured a majority government following the June vote.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Political Parties

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]

Head of State

President Katerina SAKELLAROPOULOU

Head of Government

Prime Minister Kyriakos MITSOTAKIS (since 8 July 2019

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister

Elections

Most recent elections held on 21 May 2023, with a second election following on 25 June 2023 after no party was able to form a governing coalition following the first round.

Election Results

Percent of vote by party — New Democracy (ND) 40.6%, SYRIZA 17.8%, PASOK-KINAL 11.9%, Communist Party (KKE) 7.7%, Spartiates 4.7%, Elliniki Lysi 3.7%, Niki 3.7%, Plefsi Eleftherias 3.2%; seats by party — ND 158, SYRIZA 48, PASOK-KINAL 32, KKE 21, Spartiates 13, Elliniki Lysi 10, Niki 10, Plefsi Eleftherias 8. New Democracy, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, secured a majority government following the June vote.

Constitution

11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

Independence

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

International Organization Participation

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros MALLIAS chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300 FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Tampa consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles P. RIES embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108 telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951 FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282 consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Capital City

Athens

Location

37 59 N, 23 44 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

History

Athens is the oldest European capital city; according to tradition, the city is named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom; in actuality, the appellation probably derives from a lost name in a pre-Hellenic language

U.S. Embassy Athens 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard Telephone: (30) (210) 721-2951 Emergency after-hours telephone: (30) (210) 729-4444 or (30) (210) 729-4301 Fax: (30) (210) 724-5313

Military Branches

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA)

Service Age and Obligation

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 18 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation is 1 year for the Army and 9 months for the Air Force and Navy; women are eligible for voluntary military service