Greek Parliament: Flurry of bills over summer

The PM’s office at Maximos Mansion is keeping New Democracy deputies on alert in view of the barrage of bills that are expected to be voted in during the summer. In fact, the intention that exists, according to senior parliamentary officials, is not to split parliament into summer sessions, but to keep the Plenary open in order “not to convey a feeling of relaxation”, as they characteristically note.

Political vigilance

The truth is that for at least a decade, from the years of the memoranda until the pandemic, Parliament did not set up summer sessions due to the prevailing extraordinary circumstances, but also in order to avoid the statute of limitations for criminal offenses of politicians, whose names were involved in various cases. In a sense, the Parliament will follow the established tradition, even though the parliamentary procedures and functions have returned to normal rhythms and practices. However, reasons of “political vigilance”, as is said, prefer not to dismiss the Plenary and not to have summer sessions, as the Parliament has to carry out a heavy legislative agenda.

In tour mode

Maximou Mansion wants deputies to be constantly vigilant to legislate at an intense pace in parallel with their “journeys” around the country in mixed groups of ministers – deputies – party officials visiting constituencies throughout Greece. More than 23 tours have already taken place in constituencies around the country and in the municipalities of Attica and the goal is “to go to every city, to every neighborhood, to talk to every professional and social group, to promote the government’s work and to listen to reflections and proposals,” as competent party officials say. This is something that the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis himself has focused on, emphasizing the importance of the deputies communicating (together with the ministers) the government work that is taking place to (electoral) districts.

A whiff of elections

This intense activity creates obvious associations with some MPs not ruling out snap elections in the autumn under the weight of the effects caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, inflation but also the escalating Turkish provocations which are  becoming more and more extreme. In any case, we are going through a prolonged pre-election period, despite the constant assurances of Mr. Mitsotakis that the elections will take place after the government’s four year term. In this context, the government favors the continuation and intensity of the reform work, which is why a barrage of bills is expected to be passed in the summer, the last summer before elections, whether they take place in early 2023 or during the current year.

“Flagship” bill

The “flagship” of the bills that will be introduced for voting in the near future and is expected to be the subject of a fierce political conflict is the bill of the Ministry of Education for the new framework law of tertiary institutions which brings radical changes in the structure and operation of higher education institutions. The bill is the highest priority set by the government in its legislative programming. “It will be the great ideological battle that we will give in the coming months,” said Mr. Mitsotakis at the recent Council of Ministers, giving his clear position, asking his ministers to “all support it with great intensity” as “it is a very bold reform bill “.

Focus on Health and Digital Governance

Particular emphasis is given to the bill of the Ministry of Health for secondary health care and interventions in the operation of hospitals with incentives for those who left the country in previous years to join the NHS. A bill of the Ministry of Digital Governance regarding the framework of the emerging sector of Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity is also being promoted as an important reform piece of legislation. Its main focus is the institutionalization of emerging technologies through arrangements for the implementation of the National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence and for the completion of the existing institutional framework for cybersecurity.

Other legislative priorities taking precedence

The government’s legislative priorities also include the rehabilitation and development of the Skaramangas and Elefsina Shipyards, under the responsibility of the Ministries of Finance and Development, with the strategic goalof securing the country’s national defense, by strengthening the defense and shipbuilding industry.

In the coming days, the bill of the Ministry of Interior for the targeting and evaluation of civil servants is being voted on, in order to enhance the efficiency of the public administration, while in the “warm” legislative two months of June-July the draft law of the Ministry of Finance for the corporate governance of the Public Limited Companies is expected to be voted on, the framework of which is reviewed and modernized and which concerns the organization and operation of the Public Limited Companies and the other subsidiaries of the Hellenic Holding Company and Property SA, the bill for the establishment of a Non-Governmental Center Credits as a national system for archiving personal data to be observed at the Bank of Greece, as well as the bills for the codification of the legislation on legal immigration, for the Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) and the framework of the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund, for the framework of RES licensing and the changes in the institutional framework for land uses and in particular in the Zones of Protected Areas.

Also bills for assisted reproduction, for the transposition of the Community directive on the taxation of defense expenditure, for single payroll issues, for the organization and operation of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), and for the bill on introduction of a new category of national visa for six-month entry to citizens of the United Kingdom under the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also for the care of the personnel of the Armed Forces and the organization of the National Guard, under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense.