Greek expat vote: Five-party support for the bill

After the start of the discussion of the bill on the vote of expatriates in the Standing Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice, the conditions that will exceed the number of 200 votes set by the Constitution, which means that it will be applied in the next elections, are beginning to take shape. The bill will be introduced to the Plenary for discussion next Monday, July 24, and will be voted on on Tuesday.

According to the positions expressed by the parties, the regulation by which the restrictions introduced in 2019 are lifted, is expected to be supported, in addition to the governing majority, by PASOK, Spartiates, Niki and Plefsi Eleftherias. On the other hand, SYRIZA and the KKE express objections, while the Hellenic Solution expressed reservations and asked for time to test the current regime. Based on the above, the bill can receive 220 votes.

PASOK, Spartiates, Niki and Plefsi Eleftherias are in favor of the bill

During the debate at the Panagiotis Doudonis Committee, from PASOK, after making it clear that he would support the proposed bill, he tried to explain his party’s position by saying: “Our positions are not dictated by the situation or electoral utilitarianism. Our positions are based on our beliefs and principles, and facilitation is one such principle. And for us in the weighing that is done, our principles and values are of greater weight in the communicative and contrary to the consensus actions of the government. We don’t vote because we think we are committed, we just vote even though you make an effort to make it appear that the other parties are dragging their feet, and we vote because it’s a matter of principle.”

The MP of the Spartans, Petros Dimitriadis said “The state heard a fair request. Our Greek brethren abroad were excluded from the electoral process. The restrictions that created the distortions were unfair and unreasonable, and an injustice is being restored. The bill is moving in the right direction and despite the shortcomings we will vote for it.”

Petros Apostolakis from Niki pointed out that: “The pursuit of the removal of every existing obstacle, which ensures the right to vote in every expatriate, serves the spirit of the Constitutional legislation to grant this right. The state must review restrictions and remove them.”

“The government is putting the knife in the throats of the parties, to vote for an arrangement that is suffering, and it is changing the electoral process and it is uncertain when it will have to be changed,” said Pavlos Sarakis from the Hellenic Solution and stated a reservation.

“We support the bill as a first positive step, we consider it to politically empower an entire generation that immigrated in huge numbers,” said Alexandros Kazamias from Pleussi.

Reservations from SYRIZA – Opposition from KKE

Theofilos Xanthopoulos expressed reservations on the part of SYRIZA, warned of a “danger for Democracy” and estimated that due to the fact that the right to citizenship is given based on origin, there is a risk of reckless use of the new regulation. “I understand the minister’s approach, but let’s say openly that there is a serious possibility that she does not see the bill as to how this type of possibility will not be expanded recklessly and there may be an electorate outside Greece equal to the one inside Greece,” he said characteristically and noted that his party will resubmit the proposal it had made in 2021.

On the other hand, Yiannis Giokas from the KKE side, accused the government of abolishing every criterion from those that had been set in 2021. “It is one thing to talk about improvements in the law and another thing what the government is doing, which forms an electorate that can potentially be huge and incalculable and can include voters with no ties to Greece”, he said and called on the government to put a limit on potential voters, stipulating that they have been registered in the electoral rolls before leaving the country.

Minister Kerameos: “This is a historic consensus”

“5 parties with 220 MPs have voted positively. Based on the expressed will of the parties, a majority of 200 deputies seems to be forming. It is a historic day for Greece. We want to thank the factions. This is a historic consensus”, said Niki Kerameos after the initial positions of the parties.

In her introductory statement, the Minister of the Interior referred to the restrictions that arose in the exercise of the right to vote in 2019 as a result of a consensual effort between the parties, but also to the attempt of the New Democracy government in 2021 to lift the restrictions.

“Our effort is to make the jump all together. Resetting the setting that removes the restrictions. The purpose of the bill is to strengthen the equal treatment of all the members of the electoral body”, said Ms. Kerameos and added: “Today we have the historic opportunity to take the big leap to abolish the conditions for exercising the right to vote for Greeks abroad. We seek maximum consensus.”

Ms. Kerameos explained that the government initiative attempts to go beyond party goals and political rivalries and called on the parties to vote in favor. “I invite you to vote in favor of this legislation. To take advantage of the historic opportunity that we all have after 48 years of discussions. To send a common and resounding message to Hellenism everywhere: that we want the voice of Greek citizens in the whole world to be heard more loudly, without obstacles, without restrictions”.