Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the start of discussions for constitutional revision during his second speech yesterday in Parliament, attempting an institutional escape from the grip of scandals, the OPEKEPE agenda and wiretapping issues, while reiterating that elections will be held at the end of the governmental term. The prime minister announced that within May, New Democracy will begin discussions on constitutional changes with a core of 25 articles, including potential changes to article 51 on the election of MPs and article 54 on the electoral system. “We all have institutional responsibility to speak despite the climate that is not conducive. New Democracy will take the initiative for a way forward,” Mitsotakis said in his second speech, launching an attack against Nikos Androulakis and noting sarcastically that the PASOK president desires New Democracy’s absolute majority to get out of his difficult position.
“The time has come, after the elections, to have an honest discussion about the electoral system,” Mitsotakis stated and added: “We will not prejudge this discussion. It will take place after the 2027 elections. But the 2031 elections must find the country with a more modern electoral system, which must be voted with an expanded majority.” Specifically regarding the electoral law, the prime minister implied that New Democracy’s proposal will include the logic of a mixed electoral system, in which there will be smaller and larger constituencies and where a number of MPs will be elected with preference votes and another number through party lists.
Regarding other constitutional articles, he suggested the possibility of adding a reference to artificial intelligence in article 5 and subsequently mentioned article 16 for establishing private universities as well as provisions for affordable housing, and the functioning of parties under constitutional mandate. “Beyond article 86, which is the only one where I see consensus exists, will we also discuss the revision of article 90 on the method of selecting judicial leadership without government intervention? Article 103 concerning the permanence of civil servants, so that it is linked to goal-setting and effectiveness? The revision of article 101 and the paralysis that exists through your responsibility Mr. Androulakis regarding independent authorities?” he noted, addressing the PASOK president.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented, again in a mocking manner, on Nikos Androulakis’s request for early elections saying: “I had the impression when you expressed the request for elections, you said it in a tight way hoping I might accept it. Don’t worry, elections will be held in their time, at the end of the four-year term.” He then turned his focus toward SYRIZA and indirectly toward Alexis Tsipras, implying that the Parliamentary Group under Sokratis Famellos is waiting in its vast majority for the creation of the new party to move collectively. “I really laugh with you with absolute irony to see the leader who brought you to these percentages, who got up and left, who demeans you in this way and you don’t have the courage to take a position against this reality. And you secretly wish for him to come, create a party, hoping you might manage to stay in Parliament,” the prime minister said.
