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SUBJECT [Jan 28] Greece elects new president and changes election law
DATE 2020-01-28
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Photo: Ekathimerini. Greek Parliament goes through election of the first female president and election law amendment

 

The Greek Parliament is recently going through some major changes. On January 22, 2020, the parliament voted for its first female president, and two days later bill on electoral reforms passed.

 

The president-elect Katerina Sakellaropoulou is a 63-year-old high court judge and human rights advocate, who served as the first female president of the Council of State, Greece’s top administrative court. She was nominated by the ruling conservative New Democratic Party, but also managed to get the backing of two major opposition parties: Syriza (left) and Movement for Change (center-left). She received a total of 261 votes from 300 MPs, exceeding minimum of 200 seats required by the constitution.

 

With the new leader, Greece is expected to continue its efforts of bridging the gap between men and women within and outside the political sphere. Her presidential term will start in March, 2020.

 

Another noticeable changes is reforms on the current election system. A draft law on structural changes to the proportional representative system of distributing seats was voted on January 24, 2020. The law guarantees the party with the most votes in the election a “bonus” of 20 additional seats, provided that the party receives 25 percent of the vote or more; and every 0.5 percent exceeding 25 percent equals one seat. The amount of maximum bonus seats is 50, which is possible when the party with the most votes secures 40 percent or more.

 

The bill won 163 votes for and 121 votes against, falling short of the threshold of 200, which was the amount needed for the changes to take affect before the next general election.

 

 

[Sources]

Hadjioannou, B. (2020, January 22). With a nod from parliament, Greece gets first female president. Retrieved from https://in-cyprus.com/with-a-nod-from-parliament-greece-gets-first-female-president/

 

Info@kathimerini.gr. (2020, January 24). Parliament votes to change election law: Kathimerini. Retrieved from http://www.ekathimerini.com/248820/article/ekathimerini/news/parliament-votes-to-change-election-law

 

Labropoulou, E. (2020, January 22). Katerina Sakellaropoulou becomes Greece's first woman president. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/22/europe/greece-president-katerina-sakellaropoulou-intl/index.html

 

Voudouris, G. (2020, January 24). New re-enforced proportional electoral system passes in Greek parliament. Retrieved from https://www.tornosnews.gr/en/greek-news/politics/38665-new-re-enforced-proportional-electoral-system-passes-in-greek-parliament.html  

 

 

BY MSEAP Cyber Secretariat (mseap@assembly.go.kr)