‘We are bridging our relationship with the Greek diaspora in every corner of the globe’, premier says

“We are dealing with an issue that is above party lines. It is an issue that should unite us. The first bill that lifts all restrictions to the right to vote by Greeks who live outside Greece. Hopefully, we will also see this same ability to reach consensus when we face crucial challenges, such as that of climate change,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in Parliament on Monday during the debate on a draft interior ministry law amending previous legislation on allowing Greeks abroad to vote from their place of residence.

Mitsotakis said that the government had made two attempts in 2019 to give registered Greek voters abroad the option of voting in Greek elections from their place of residence – an area where Greece lagged compared to most advanced countries – before arriving at a compromise. The time was now ripe, he added, to “make the great leap forward” and pass legislation that corrected observed mistakes and errors in this legislation.

“We are bridging our relationship with the Greek diaspora in every corner of the globe. We have the opportunity to promote a bold measure without party colours and a national stamp. A victory of parliament, a victory of democracy. I call on you all to together approve the lifting of all obstacles to voting by registered voters abroad from their place of residence,” the prime minister said, concluding his address to Parliament.