ATHENS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd November, 2018) The Greek ruling Coalition of the Radical Left, commonly known as Syriza, introduced constitutional amendments, proposed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, separating church and state and changing the country's electoral system.
In Greece, the president, prime minister and cabinet members have to be sworn in by the church. Tsipras, who is known to be an atheist, was the first prime minister the be sworn it through a secular ceremony. The official, who has repeatedly pledged to enact religious neutrality of the state, voiced his specific proposals earlier this week.
The bill, introduced in the parliament on Friday on behalf of Tsipras, includes 16 amendments.
The draft law suggests stipulating Greece's religious neutrality but maintaining that Orthodox Christianity is the country's "prevailing confession." It also abandons the religious swearing-in ceremony and suggests that a religiously neutral ceremony should be used instead.
The bill also stipulates switching to the election of the president through the popular vote instead of through lawmakers' vote from specific candidacies. If the parliament fails to elect the president three times, it will not be dissolved. Instead of it, the president will be elected through the popular vote where the citizens will choose between two most popular candidates.
The document also suggests changing the electoral system to proportional representation on the constitutional level rather than it be stipulated only by the electoral law.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that not only lawmakers but citizens are allowed to introduce draft laws in the parliament if their suggestions are supported by over 100,000 people.
The bill also includes amendments strengthening social security standards.
