EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). It’s hard to believe that this change will ever be accomplished in Greece… Tenure is so deeply entrenched in the political culture of the country, for two centuries of statehood and another four centuries of slavery to the Ottomans. But let’s say, since the people are favoring it, that the necessary changes to the Constitution are implemented. Who will guarantee that the “Review Committees” to be formed will free of political influence? It will take hard work for many decades and wide conscious action by patriotic forces to achieve any progress on this issue…
BELOW IS A COMPILATION AND SUMMARIZED VERSION OF THE NEWS
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has proposed a significant constitutional reform aimed at ending the lifetime tenure of civil servants, a provision currently enshrined in Article 103 of the Greek Constitution. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance accountability and efficiency within the public sector.eKathimeriniPress Project+4tovima.com+4tovima.com+4
In a recent interview on SKAI Radio, Mitsotakis emphasized the need for performance-based evaluations, stating that consistent underperformance should not be protected by constitutional guarantees. He highlighted that while many public servants perform their duties diligently, there must be mechanisms to address those who do not meet established standards. The Prime Minister also underscored that refusal to participate in evaluations would be unacceptable, indicating that sanctions could be imposed on those who resist such assessments .eKathimerini+3ProtoThema English+3Press Project+3tovima.com+1Press Project+1
To implement this reform, a constitutional amendment is required, necessitating a three-fifths majority no(180 out of 300 MPs) in the current Parliament. If this threshold is achieved, only a simple majority (151 MPs) would be needed in the subsequent Parliament to finalize the revision. Mitsotakis has called upon opposition parties, particularly PASOK, to support this initiative. However, PASOK has expressed reservations, citing concerns over potential government overreach and the implications of granting such authority to future administrations .MacroPolis+3eKathimerini+3ProtoThema English+3
Public opinion appears to be shifting in favor of reform. A recent MARC poll for Proto Thema indicated that nearly two-thirds of public sector employees support the idea of revising the tenure system, reflecting a broader societal readiness to address longstanding issues within the public administration .ProtoThema English
The constitutional revision process is expected to commence at the end of 2025, with full-scale discussions anticipated in 2026. This timeline provides an opportunity for public dialogue and political consensus-building on the proposed changes .eKathimerini+1ProtoThema English+1
This reform initiative is part of Mitsotakis’s broader agenda to modernize Greece’s public sector, promote meritocracy, and enhance the quality of public services. By introducing performance-based evaluations and accountability measures, the government aims to foster a more efficient and responsive public administration.tovima.com+1eKathimerini+1
