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A public consultation process of the Constitutional Revision was launched by the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, with a Latin American twist, paving the way for a “new political changeover” and “New Greece 2021”.

Tsipras aims to overcome “the narrow confines of Parliament” to limit the objections of “the conservative, old political system and the technocratic elite” that wants to limit the democratic influence of the people. The Greek Prime Minister proposed a constitutional review process “by the people for the people and not in absentia.”

This “democratic revolution” that leaves behind the specific terms of revision, provided already by the Constitution, so as to expand and ensure its popular legitimacy, “by a process that involves, organises, mobilises citizens. A process of active citizenship and not a restricted procedure, within the walls of the Parliament House.”

IIn September, the Constitutional Revision’s “steering committee” will be announced, in order “to conduct a broad, open debate nationwide,” in municipalities with the participation of scientific and social organisations, citizen movements, collectives and individual citizens.

The proposal that Tsipras presented on Monday at the Parliament’s terrace, consists of five pillars, interfering with the architecture of the political system, strengthening direct democracy tools, the rule of law, State – Church relations and social rights.

Tsipras even proposed a new referendum on the Constitutional Revision process, explaining later that Syriza and the “government of the left” do not aim to force citizens to take decisions that are beyond their knowledge but at the same time suggested that “important issues will not be judged by bureaucrats and specialists.”

Syriza government’s proposal put the President of Democracy under direct election of the citizens when a second vote within the Parliament House fails, in order to put an end to the automatic Parliament dissolution process that takes place automatically if such a vote fails for the third time in Plenary, causing acute fall of the government.

A change will also take place to the powers that the President of Democracy can exercise, by further expanding them to the level they used to be on 1975, before the Greek political system was reformed in order to ensure that most of the powers would be handed out to the Prime Minister.

On government issues, the proposal fully connects the government with Parliament, suggesting that the Prime Minister must be an active MP, putting an end to technocrat Prime Ministers with an exception of care-taking governments.

Further changes will be made in the use of referendums, expanding the option to popular initiatives of 500,000 signatures on national matters. The immunity of MPs will be abolished, but not if the MP acts in accordance with government policy.

Tsipras turned down the proposal on a Constitutional Court, proposing a rather intermediate solution of a judges advisory body, as “judges should not be allowed to legislate.”

On Church issues, Tsipras proposed a “neutrality of the State” but with preservation of recognition of Christian Orthodox religion as “prevailing religion, for historical and practical reasons.”

On independent authorities, Tsipras opposes the “technocratic ideology of deification of their operation and constant expansion of responsibilities and their powers,” asking for more parliamentary control on authorities that are already established with wide majorities of 4/5.

On social rights, Tsipras aims to pose a constitutional ban on public control of water goods and electricity waiver, while another issue that could bring friction to the second review negotiations of the third bailout programme such as collective bargaining, will become the only means to determine salary.

The post New Greece 2021: Tsipras’s Constitutional revision with a Latin American twist appeared first on New Europe.

Dans un souci de transparence, Joseph Djogbénou, ministre de la justice du Bénin a dévoilé le salaire standard des ministres du régime de la Rupture sur le réseau social Facebook. Quel est la rémunération officielle d'un ministre? Un salaire global de 1 703 518 F CFA auquel s'ajoute une prime d'équipement unique de 5.000.000 F CFA et une assurance maladie. 

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