The first round of voting to select the articles of the constitution that can be revised by the next parliament concluded on Thursday with parliamentarians backing virtually all changes proposed by ruling SYRIZA’s parliamentary group, according to an announcement by the prime minister’s press office.
The proposals were backed by either a 150+ majority or a two-thirds-plus majority of more than 180 MPs.
Among those backed by more than 180 votes were changes proposed by SYRIZA for separating the election of the president from the dissolution of parliament (Article 32), others placing restrictions on parliamentary immunity (Article 62) and also changes to curtail privileges afforded by Article 86 on ministerial responsibility and Article 101A on independent authorities.
Proposals backed by a 150+ majority included those on the religious neutrality of the state, civilian oaths, protection of social rights and social goods, protection of labour and collective freedoms, ratification of international treaties through referendums, making it obligatory for the prime minister to be an MP, establishing a ‘constructive no-confidence vote’, establishing the people’s right to initiate legislation and to initiate referendums, an election system with proportional representation and MPs to represent overseas Greeks, establishing a temporary obstacle to re-election after serving three consecutive terms in parliament, as well as proportional representation and direct democracy in local government.
Parliament also backed a number of complementary proposals submitted or backed by SYRIZA MPs, including a ban on discrimination based on race or sexual orientation, introduction of the principle of leniency and abolition of laws on ‘abusive exercise of rights’, replacement of the prime minister on health grounds, extending judiciary independence guarantees to military judges, defining a system of regional organization and the protection of island and mountainous areas.
The process will continue with a second round of voting on proposed revisions of articles and sections of the constitution that were approved by at least 151 votes, which is to be held in a month’s time.
Among the proposed changes that will not go to a second round of voting as they failed to get majority support in the first round were:
To Article 30, paragraph, which got 148 ‘ayes’, 120 ‘nays’ and three abstentions
To Article 34, Par. 1 section II with 147 ‘ayes’, 121 ‘nays’ and two abstentions
To Article 35, Par. 2 case c which got 150 ‘ayes’, 118 ‘nays’ and two absetntions
To Article 41, Par. 5 which got 150 ‘ayes’, 118 ‘nays’ and two present.
All four were linked to proposals for separating the election of the president of the republic from the dissolution of parliament.
A total of 274 MPs took part in the vote, with those of the Democratic Alliance abstaining, apart from their rapporteur Andreas Loverdos, as did those of the Centrists’ Union, apart from Ioannis Saridis. Among absentees were Giorgos Kasapidis from New Democracy, Panos Kammenos and Aristidis Fokas from the Independent Greeks and Stathis Panagoulis.