In an article by New Democracy MP, Notis Mitarakis, argues that the role of the MP and Parliamentary Groups should be strengthened and at the same time the role of extra-parliamentary ministers should be abolished.
Notis Mitarakis’ proposal is part of the upcoming debate on the constitutional revision and is published in the newspaper “Proto Thema”.
The whole article by Noti Mitarakis
Greece’s constitution is a Parliamentary democracy. The upcoming constitutional revision has opened up the political debate on the direction that the Parliament should take.
The review should come to strengthen the character of the constitution. In two directions. First, in strengthening the institutional counterweights, by strengthening the role of the President, especially in times of potential instability, of the judiciary, of local government. Many thoughts have been expressed, I will not focus on them today. But I will focus, secondly, on the necessity of strengthening the parliamentary nature of the constitution.
In elections, in Greece, as we do not have a presidential system, citizens do not elect a Head of State or Government. They elect 300 representatives, who form Parliamentary Groups and, according to the Constitution, the head of the first – in terms of strength – group receives the mandate to form a Government.
The confidence of the majority of the Parliament remains perpetually necessary for the continuation of government, unlike Presidential systems where there is a term of office for the elected, independent of Parliament. So the MP is the direct choice of the citizens, having the legitimacy of their election.
I believe that in a parliamentary democracy, enhancing citizens’ trust in the institutions, the members of the Council of Ministers (Ministers and Deputy Ministers) should be selected, by the Prime Minister, exclusively from among the MPs. In this proposal I do not include Deputy Ministers, where at times the selection of persons with political judgment and technocratic competence contributes to the effectiveness of the Government.
One might ask, but shouldn’t the Government include some unelected personalities? Clearly yes. I recall that through the State ballot paper, the President of the day can select 5-6 persons who will be elected from the first party and thus can occupy Ministerial roles. Moreover, this proposal is in line with what is in force in the New Democracy party for the President.
The Kyriakos Mitsotakis has already established, since 2016, that only sitting MPs, in the National Parliament, can run for the presidency of the New Democracy. A proposal which we supported and indeed elevates the role of the MP. The role of MPs, individually and collectively, in the legislative process should also be enhanced.
At present, while MPs have the right to table amendments, either to the S/N – which is the essential meaning of an amendment – or as additions to provisions, as well as proposed laws, these are not debated and voted on unless the Executive accepts. Raising a substantive issue of separation of powers.
While no amendment would be accepted today without the approval of the majority, it is inconsistent with the nature of the constitution as a parliamentary one for MPs to be unable to put amendments to a vote. A matter that can be addressed by appropriate amendments to the Rules of the House.
Collectively, the enhancement of the strategic role of the respective Parliamentary Group in the legislative process is on the one hand a matter of internal functioning, on the other hand would require a general legislative framework for the functioning of political parties, a framework that needs to be institutionalized.
In this regard, honourable colleagues, the Members of Parliament of the New Democracy can contribute even more to the shaping of our legislative strategy in the coming years by taking an even more substantial role in the legislative process. With a more dynamic relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, there will only be benefit for the party and the country.
Finally, let me add three additional proposals:
– First, I propose that the term of the House of Representatives be a five-year term, with a fixed election cycle. Reinforcing the need for stability for the country.
– Second, the procedure for waiver of immunity should be simplified, and requests should be introduced for discussion in the relevant committee and plenary only if the reported MP invokes immunity, otherwise the request should be automatically accepted. Because the current system creates a great deal of tension and publicity when it is lifted, and disproportionately little in the case of filing and acquittal. Reinforcing a sense of devaluation of Parliament.
– Thirdly, with regard to Parliamentary Groups, I propose that, from the start of the next Session, the possibility of Parliamentary Groups with fewer than 10 Members should be abolished, i.e. the exemption currently given under certain conditions should be abolished. If a party is elected with fewer than that, it will be considered an independent Member. Currently the existence of very small groups is not functional and does nothing to improve political dialogue.
