Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday called for a sweeping revision of Greece’s Constitution, arguing that the country needs a modernized charter that reflects contemporary realities and strengthens democratic institutions.
Addressing Parliament during a debate on proposals to amend constitutional provisions, Mitsotakis said the ruling conservative New Democracy party’s proposals would help create “a European, modern state” free from longstanding institutional shortcomings.
The debate coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the restoration of democracy following the collapse of the military dictatorship in 1974. Mitsotakis said the occasion was an opportunity to honor those who resisted the junta and helped rebuild Greece’s parliamentary democracy.
The prime minister accused opposition parties of failing to engage constructively in the constitutional revision process despite his government’s efforts to build broad consensus.
He criticized smaller parties for what he described as blanket opposition and took aim at the center-left PASOK, saying its decision to vote “present” amounted to political absence. He also rebuked the new parliamentary leader of the left-wing SYRIZA party, Rena Dourou, for deciding not to attend a presidential reception later Friday marking the anniversary of the restoration of democracy, saying she was wrong to skip an event honoring those who fought for democracy.
