Kyriakos Mitsotakis: All our MPs on the ballot papers for the next elections, we are one fist (video)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to members of the New Democracy parliamentary group.

The Prime Minister presented the main pillars of the New Democracy proposal for the Constitutional Review.

Approaching the Plenary Session where the ND’s CO is meeting and seeing parliamentary editors in the corridor waiting for him, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, smiling, said: “I see that the Parliamentary Groupis showing more interest than the parliamentary work… We are waiting for you to come in as well.”

“What concerns our parliamentary parliament is very important but it also needs to meet the problems of the citizens.” said Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the beginning of the speech, making a special reference to the problem of accuracy and the measures taken by the government to address it.

“We have been in government for seven years and today New Democracy is recording proportions more than double those of the second party while we remain the only national force of certainty, security and perspective,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during his speech to the New Democracy’s Central Committee.

At the same time, addressing the MPs, he stressed that we must “speak in the language of the citizens and not necessarily projecting our own concerns or our own insecurities into an internal debate.” “We ought to be honest but also productive in our positions. As we said, reports that are of interest to the citizenry and avoiding a miserable introversion.”

As the Prime Minister noted, the New Democracy is “a force that wants to keep our country on the path of progress and in a new term of office. Not only because a third four-year term would prevent the country from returning to what we experienced three four years ago, but mainly because our party, New Democracy, has a lot more to do for the Greece of 2030, as it envisions it. By dynamically shielding its strength, by continuing this double path of growth and social support, because without high growth rates there can be no social dividend. And finally, paving the way for major new reforms required by this new era that has dawned.”

“The draft also includes regulations that should have been made already, such as the existing constitutional provision for the establishment of private universities. This was also discussed in 2019 with the stunning 180-degree turn of PASOK, which at first had agreed and then backtracked.”

“Extend candidate voting and lower the voting age to 21 years.”

“There should be a 6-year term for the President so that his non-partisan character is not altered.”

“There should be a constitutional safeguarding of the Greek language and flag as a symbol of Hellenism”.

“The dialogue on the role of the MP should be opened”.

“We must constitutionally enshrine what the government has achieved in producing primary surpluses,so that no one ever again experiments with the fate of the country.”

“We need to revise Article 86 and limit the role of Parliament in holding ministers accountable.”

“We are opening up the issue of modernityin the public sectorby establishing universal evaluation in the constitution.”

“We propose that there be a constitutional provision for affordable housing.

“To congratulate our Parliamentary Group for its stance on the documents of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Our MPs reacted immediately and courageously . Just as our Members have done the right thing, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office must now move with the same speed. All our MPs will be on the candidates for the next elections if they so wish, without final decisions the presumption of innocence applies. We are one and we move forward as one”.

“The opposition is embarrassed about the Constitutional Review. It is unconcerned about the country’s next day – anxious about how to fabricate scenarios to negate the credibility of the government and the ethos of the New Democracy.”

• Artificial intelligence must serve the freedom of the individual and the well-being of society so that the risks are mitigated and the benefits it offers are realised.
1. Articles 14, 15
• Cleaning and rationalisation of the press, television, radio, internet.
• Protection of the journalist and against his/her employer.
1. Article 16
• State care for the protection, cultivation and dissemination of the Greek language.
• Protection of the Greek flag as a symbol of the Greek nation and Greek culture.
• The number of years of compulsory education cannot be less than eleven (instead of nine today).
• Possibility of higher education being provided by legal entities of university education which may be of public or non-state/non-profit character with full self-government, under the supervision of an independent authority and subject to the condition of ensuring the high quality of the studies provided.
1. Article 17
• Wording in a more concise manner.
• Protection not only of property, but of property (shares, bonds, intellectual and industrial property, trademark).
• Compensation for restriction of use without expropriation.
• Possibility of transferring the building factor (dynamic urban planning).
• Use of abandoned buildings for social purposes.
1. Article 21
• State provision for affordable housing.
• Taking into account intergenerational justice and solidarity.
1. Article 24
• Taking measures to address the phenomenon of climate change, efficient management of water resources, strengthening renewable energy sources, ensuring environmental balance in all state intervention and protection of animals.
1. Article 29
• Parties must organize and operate in a democratic manner.
• A law defines the conditions for the establishment and operation of a political party.
• The Supreme Special Court under Article 100 shall verify the fulfilment of the conditions for a political party to participate in elections.
1. Article 30
• A six-year term of office of the President of the Republic (with a transitional term for the incumbent President).
1. Article 41 par. 2, 5
• Removal of dissolution of Parliament on a national issue of exceptional importance. Dissolution by proposal of the Government and decision of the Parliament to renew the popular mandate (self-dissolution of the Parliament).
1. Article 44 par. 2
• Introduction of rules for the good conduct of referendums: the question must be formulated in a way that is understandable and comprehensible to citizens. A sufficient period of at least twenty days must elapse between the announcement and the holding of the referendum.
1. Article 51 par. 4
• The possibility of exercising the right to vote by postal vote also for voters located within the Territory.
• Article 54 par. 1, 3
• The electoral system should ensure reasonable proportionality and governability of the country.
• A law may provide that the Territory shall be divided into minor and major regions.
2. Article 55 par. 1
• Right to be elected at 21.
• Suspension of the obligation of military service for the duration of the parliamentary status.
1. Articles 56, 57:
• Removal of a detailed list of disqualifications and immunities. Establishment of general principles and authorization of a law for implementation from the next election or immediately by a two-thirds majority.
1. Article 60
• Enforcement of the institutional role of the MP in the exercise of legislative and control powers and in communication with his/her constituency, in accordance with the Constitution and the Rules of the Parliament.
1. Article 73 par. 1
• Constitutional enshrinement of principles of good lawmaking: adequate pre-legislative consultation, evaluation of the implementation of the law and measures for codification of legislation.
1. Article 78 par. 2, 6
• A tax or any other financial burden may not be imposed by a law with retroactive effect.
• Incentives for a stable tax regime may be provided to private investments that are strategic for the national economy.
1. Article 79
• The budget shall ensure fiscal balance between revenues and expenditures and sustainable fiscal operation.
• An annual report shall be submitted and published by entities financed, directly or indirectly, from the State budget.
1. Article 81 par. 2
• Possibility to provide by law for functional incompatibility of a deputy/minister and temporary substitution.
• Possibility to appoint Vice-Presidents of the Cabinet and non-ministers.
1. Article 82
• Rules of good government functioning.
1. Article 86
• Removal of “without delay” and the power of the Parliament to conduct a preliminary investigation.
• Preliminary investigation by the Prosecutor of the Court of Appeal and proposal for prosecution by the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court. Alternatively, preliminary assessment of criminal liability of ministers by a joint judicial and political body.
• Exercise of prosecution by a decision of the Parliament, by an absolute majority of the total number of deputies, by roll call vote.
1. Article 89
• Permitted by an executive law to assign special administrative tasks to judicial officials by decision of the Parliament.
• They shall not be allowed to participate in any capacity in the Government, be appointed to political positions or be appointed to independent authorities for at least three years after their retirement.
2. Article 90 par. 5
• Appointments to the positions of senior judges by a special parliamentary committee from among the senior judges, without government intervention, from a list of three judges for each position proposed by the respective plenums.
1. Article 100
• Composition of the Supreme Special Court with a three-year term of office, consisting of nine judges (the 3 Presidents of the Supreme Courts, 2 judges elected by the Plenums of the Council of State and the Supreme Court, 2 regular law professors chosen by the other members).
• Power of preventive control of constitutionality and compatibility with EU law for passed bills, except those concerning exclusively the ratification of international treaties, at the request of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister or the Parliament (up to twice in each session).
• The decision on unconstitutionality or contradiction with EU law prevents the adoption of the law. The decision on constitutionality binds the courts after the adoption of the law.
1. Article 101 par. 3, 5
• Decentralised system: Abolition of presumption of competence in favour of decentralised administrations; the implementation of the decentralised system can be done either by the existence of a decentralised state structure and/or by the existence of decentralised services of ministries and other public sector bodies.
• State provision for the support of the primary sector and the development of the Greek periphery, in order to ensure equal access to public goods throughout the territory.
• Principles of good administration, transparency, accountability and meritocracy. Constitutional guarantee of a National Transparency Authority.
1. Article 101A
• Election of Presidents and Members of independent authorities by a parliamentary committee from a list of three candidates proposed by a Council of Experts following a public call for expressions of interest. The Council shall include ex officio the Governor of the National Transparency Authority, the President of the Supreme Personnel Selection Board, the Governor of the Bank of Greece, the President of the Assembly of Rectors and the head of the collective body representing the first or second degree local authorities.
1. Article 102
• A law determines the degrees of local government which are up to two (2).
• Local or special taxes or burdens of any nature may be imposed by decisions of the competent bodies of the Local Government Organizations.
• The budgets of local government agencies shall be drawn up after adequate public consultation with the inhabitants of the areas concerned and shall ensure fiscal balance.
• Disciplinary penalties of suspension/dismissal of the elected bodies of local authorities shall be imposed by decision of the Supreme Special Court.
1. Article 103
• Defining the concept of tenure. Law defines the procedure, criteria for the evaluation of civil servants, rewards and penalties that this may entail, including permanent termination, following a decision of the service council. Rewards shall be linked to qualifications and performance.
• Evaluation of civil servants, based on the principles of impartiality, neutrality, professional competence and efficiency, with the possibility of participation of the ASEP.
• Evaluation is two-way, i.e. from subordinates to their superiors, as well as from citizens to all.