The two rounds of local elections have concluded.
The bill from the Ministry of the Interior regarding the new Code Local Government, which was passed by the Parliament, establishes a single round of voting for the election of mayors and regional governors, a move expected to lead to greater participation in the electoral process.
The bill was approved by a majority of the Parliament’s Committee on Public Administration, Public Order, and Justice. In principle, the following parties voted in favor: New Democracy, SYRIZA, KKE and Freedom Course, while the following voted against: PASOK, Greek Solution and Niki.
The Minister of the Interior Theodoros Livanios emphasized that greater participation in the electoral process gives mayors more power.
He noted that the new electoral system will facilitate pre-election collaborations, the submission of joint candidate slates, and policy dialogue before the election—in contrast to what we have seen happen between the first and second Sundays.
The ten most significant changes in local government
1. Fifteen (15) years after their establishment, the country’s regions had not yet acquired a unified legislative framework, with the result that they were simultaneously governed by provisions pertaining to central government agencies, the former state regions, and the elected prefectures. In many cases, the same issue could fall under the jurisdiction of more than one body, without a clear hierarchy, which led to inefficiency and confusion. This comes to an end with the enactment of the unified Local Government Code for municipalities and regions.
2. Citizen participation in the organization and activities of municipalities. Establishment of consultative municipal referendums conducted via electronic voting, with institutional safeguards for the conduct of the process. Strengthening youth councils, with clear rules for their election and an electronic voting process.
3. Enhancing the transparency and accountability of elected bodies. The requirement to publish decisions, the use of digital tools, and the strengthening of oversight mechanisms all contribute to creating a framework that builds citizens’ trust in the administration.
4. Reorganization of the governance system for municipalities and regions. By clarifying the responsibilities of local government’s collective bodies (municipal and regional councils, municipal and regional committees, other committees and advisory bodies) and establishing uniform operating rules, the aim is to improve efficiency and avoid conflicts of jurisdiction.
5. Efficiency and transparency in the operation of financial services, so as to avoid creating gray areas open to multiple interpretations.
6. An objective and targeted system for reviewing the legality—exclusively (and under no circumstances based on expediency)—of the actions and administrative bodies of local government, through the operation of an integrated information system and the Independent Local Government Legality Audit Service.
7. Clear definition of the statutory status of local government administrative bodies, namely their compensation and attendance allowances, the suspension of their professional activities, or the requirement to obtain special leave.
8. Documentation and systematization of the responsibilities of municipalities and regions within the framework of multilevel governance, with the aim of clearly allocating them among the different levels of administration. This approach avoids overlaps and gaps while strengthening cooperation between levels of governance for the benefit of citizens.
9. Changing the method of electing local government authorities by abolishing the second round of elections and allowing electronic voting at special polling stations in the presence of a judicial representative, in order to strengthen the legitimacy of elected authorities and citizen participation.
10. Digital transformation of local government. The Code makes a deliberate choice to utilize electronic applications to facilitate citizens’ participation in local government bodies, as well as to serve them in their day-to-day interactions with local government. Thus, the Code provides for the creation of applications with multiple interoperabilities.
The Minister of the Interior Theodoros Livaniou emphasized that the time has come for a very serious discussion regarding the transfer of responsibilities from the central government to local governments.
“For example, I would like to see regional government eventually take over public transportation in Athens, similar to how Transport for London operates within the Greater London Authority. There are many difficult decisions to be made. From time to time, local governments have requested that health centers be transferred to their jurisdiction. “I am not convinced that they would function better than if they were integrated into the National Health System,” Mr. Livaniou noted, among other things.
