POLITICS IN GREECE AFTER 1974
Greece (along with Spain and Portugal) is one of the three post-1974 “new democracies” of Southern Europe, and has a market economy that was substantially liberalized since its accession. The 1974 transition to a liberal pluralistic democracy (after a 7- year military dictatorship) was the historical juncture that gave birth to the Third Hellenic Republic and Greece‟s contemporary party system. Since 1974 two political parties have alternated in power.
The center-right wing party of ND (New Democracy), founded by Constantine Karamanlis, held power in 1974-81 and again in 1990-93 under Constantine Mitsotakis and from 2004 till now. And the socialist party of PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement), founded by Andreas Papandreou, has held power in 1981-89 and 1993-96 under Papandreou, and 19962004 under Costas Simitis.
Pan-Hellenic Socialistic Movement (PASOK)
•The Greek social democratic party. •It was established in 1974, following the fall of the military dictatorship. •Its founding principle were "National Independence, Popular Sovereignty, Social Emancipation, Democratic Process.“ •1974 - 13.5% •1977-25% •1981-wins the elections with 48%
New Democracy
•Also founded in 1974 •Modern and progressive right-wing party • The party's ideology is defined as "radical liberalism," a term defined by ND as "the prevalence of free market rules with the decisive intervention of the state in favor of social justice."
Greek Communist-Leftist Parties •KKE (Greek Communist Party) •It was founded in 1918 by Avraam Benaroya, a Greek Jewish teacher and leading labor movement leader in Thessaloniki. •Coalition of the Left, of Social Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) •In June 1989 Synaspismos gained 13.1% of votes
The present form of the political system was ratified in the referendum on 8th December 1974 when 70% of the population voted in favor of a non-monarchical democracy. The Constitution currently in force was voted for on 11th June 1975 and reviewed in both 1986 and 2001. The supreme authority in the Hellenic Republic is the President, whose wide range of activities characterize the political system as a Presidential Democracy. The President is elected by the Hellenic Parliament to serve for five-year period.
In administrative terms Greece is divided into 13 regions, 51 prefectures and the autonomous administrative region of Mount Athos. At the level of local government, the recent “Kapodistrias Programme” reorganized the map of the country at an administrative level abolishing the plethora of previously existing „communities‟ and creating uniform, larger municipalities. The mayors and the prefects of the country are elected by ballot of the people every four years, while heads of regions are appointed directly by the government
The right to vote in Greece is universal and mandatory for all citizens aged over 18 in the country. The supreme courts of Greece are the Areopagus (the Supreme Court of Cassation) and the Council of State. Like Italy, but unlike Spain and Portugal, Greek political forces have penetrated the state apparatus completely in their quest for votes. The highly centralized nature of the Greek state, which since 1833 has used the French administrative model, facilitates clientelism immensely.
Clientelism has created a huge, unwieldy bureaucracy in state administration and stateowned industry, in which the primary purpose of much employment is as a reward for the delivery of votes (or other political favors) to the party in government, and not the efficient, intelligent implementation of policy