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Greece Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Flag of the established religion of the country Greec Orthodoxy


Flag Description

Nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country.

Election Type: Presidential (the President is elected by the parliament)

Election date: 8 February 2005

Number of registered voters: 9 865 440 (as at February 2005)

Compulsory voting: Yes

Government

Type: Parliamentary Republic

Chief of State and President: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party; since 12 March 2005 for a five-year term)

Party in Government: New Democracy Party

Head of Government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)

Branches: Executive-President (head of state) and Prime Minister (head of government). According to the Greek Constitution, the President may only serve two terms. The President appoints the leader of the party, securing plurality of vote in election to become Prime Minister and form a government.

Legislative—a unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats). Members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms.

Judicial-Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal

Political parties: New Democracy (ND), Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Coalition of the Left (SYNASPISMOS), and Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS)

Suffrage: universal and mandatory at 18

According to a Southeast European Times article of 9 February 2005, entitled Papoulias elected President of Greece, socialist politician and former foreign minister Karolos Papoulias will replace Kostis Stephanopoulos as president at his swearing-in on 12 March 2005. 279 of the law-makers in the 300-seat legislature voted on favour of Papoulias who was the only candidate for the presidency.

And in an Athens News Agency article of 9 February 2005 entitled, Papoulias informed of his election as 6th President of the Hellenic Republic by parliament president Psarouda-Benaki after parliamentary vote the author discusses the record-breaking nature of Papoulias’s election along with upcoming significant events such as the ratification of the European Constitution and radical social and economic changes within Greece.

 

 

 

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