Parties Decide on Constitutional Revision Articles for Next Parliament Term

Parties voted in parliament on Thursday night on the constitutional articles they agreed to revise, ending this parliamentary term's responsibilities in terms of the constitutional revision.

Among the articles which received a wide approval for revision in the next term are those related to voting for the president of the republic, and those relating to lifting immunity of ministers so they may be prosecuted.

In summary, some of the most significant clauses proposed by SYRIZA approved for revision are:

- The procedure for electing the president of the republic and its potential diassociation from national elections

- The finalization of an electoral system of so-called simplified proportional representation in both local and national elections, whereby the parties are represented in the legislature according to the share of votes they win without a bonus of extra seats awarded for electoral percentage performance, as is the case in the so-called 'reinforced proportional representation'

- The religious neutrality of the state

- The further enhancement of individual and collective social rights 

- An end to discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation

- Referendums and popular legislative initiatives  

The following articles proposed by main opposition conservative party New Democracy were approved for revision:

- The right of parliamentary minority parties to comprise up to two inquiry committees

- The judicial equation of civil and military courts

- The undertaking of suspended court cases by the Court of Audit