PM Samaras Presents Proposals for 'New Greece' through Constitution Changes
Prime minister Antonis Samaras presented outlined his proposals for amendments to the country's Constitution at an event at the Athens Concert Hall, the Athens News Agency-Macedonian Press Agency reported.
"Today we are making a leap, we are changing the country's political and state identity," Samaras said, as quoted by the news agency. "The country needs a new architecture. On September 3 the process will officially begin so that the next Parliament is revisionary. We will set the agenda, we will listen to everything and discuss it," he added.
The list of amendments that the prime minister proposed includes a stronger regulatory role of the president, including the president's direct election, and a smaller Parliament. He called for greater guarantees that governments will complete their four-year term, with a stable electoral system that could only be changed by a three-fifths majority in Parliament, as well as more flexible governments. His other proposals included the abolition of the current plethora of ministry general secretaries and the introduction of measures barring MPs from becoming ministers, so that entering Parliament was no longer a stepping-stone for joining the government.
Samaras also proppose updating laws governing the mass media, establishing a Constitutional Court and increasing accountability in public office, from that of premier down to mayors and trade unionists.