Democracy

On Monday Greece introduced a bill that would allow for voting by mail, a long-standing request of diaspora Greeks and a measure that has been applied in almost all modern democracies. Interior Minister Niki Kerameus said the reform will make it easier to exercise the right to vote and will deepen democracy.

A three-day conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of Greek democracy, a period known as the Metapolitefsi, is scheduled to take place from February 29 to March 2 at the National Gallery in Athens.

A few weeks ago, in its annual preview of the new year about to start, The Economist highlighted how important 2024 will be for democracy worldwide. The British magazine was one of the first voices to cast attention on the fact that in the next 12 months more than 70 countries will head to the polls.

The first reactions to the planned opening of higher education are as expected. 

College sit-ins and the hurling of petrol bombs confirm that the government is attempting to break a taboo of the era following the restoration of democracy, which by now is only being defended by a rearguard minority. 

The government is planning a string of important reform initiatives across a range of areas, from tertiary education and family law to the way that justice operates.

Previous attempts to regulate the voting of citizens residing outside of Greece have ended in a bureaucratic failure blamed on the entire political system.

It seems that the lesson has been learned. It is significant that the largest opposition parties are on board with the government's legislative initiative on postal voting. 

Postal voting, if it works properly, will go some way towards curbing the problem of rising abstention that should concern everyone, regardless of party affiliation.

At the same time, it is a long-standing request of diaspora Greeks and a measure that has been applied in almost all modern democracies.

In political developments, we often focus on internal party ramifications or even personal quarrels, ignoring the big picture.

As political parties hammer out their strategies for the next five months leading up to the European Parliament elections, the primary focus is shifting to the opposition as ruling New Democracy maintains an unchallenged substantial lead. 

He added that the legitimacy of democratic processes depends on transparency and everyone's willingness to respect the will of the people.