Greece’s new local government code seeks to clarify responsibilities between municipalities and regional authorities while overhauling parts of the country’s electoral system and expanding public participation in local administration.
The code addresses longstanding disputes over which level of government is responsible for services including stormwater drain maintenance, outdoor advertising placement, playground operation and maintenance, and oversight of toy safety standards.
The reform also changes the election process for local officials by abolishing runoff voting on a second Sunday and introducing electronic voting at designated polling stations. Mayors and regional governors will be elected with 42% plus one vote, down from the current 43% threshold.
The code consolidates all legislation governing local administration into a single text for the first time, including older provisions from the 1950s and 1960s that remain in force. The document contains 761 articles divided into six sections and includes an appendix detailing the responsibilities of municipalities and regions alongside the legal provisions governing each sector.
Public consultation on the code will continue until June 4, and lawmakers are expected to submit it to Parliament for approval before month’s end.
