Mitsotakis Raises the Stakes: Constitutional Reform and National Diploma Enter the Political Arena

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is moving decisively to shape the next phase of the political agenda, placing Constitutional Revision and the National High School Diploma at the center of a broader reform narrative that goes well beyond routine governance.

The timing, political messaging and scope of the announcements suggest a deliberate strategic escalation, aimed as much at the opposition as at society itself.

Consensus call or strategic pressure?

Mitsotakis confirmed that final proposals for Constitutional Revision will be submitted in March, incorporating feedback from the ruling party’s parliamentary group. Officially, the Prime Minister framed the process as an invitation to dialogue and national consensus.

Behind the scenes, however, government officials acknowledge that the initiative also functions as a test of political responsibility for opposition parties, forcing them to clarify whether they support institutional modernization or resist change for ideological reasons.

The proposed areas of reform — fiscal stability safeguards, changes to ministerial liability, non-state universities, judicial leadership selection, public-sector evaluation and potential limits to tenure — touch core fault lines in Greek political life.

According to sources close to the Prime Minister, the goal is to frame the debate as a choice between structural reform and institutional stagnation, with an eye firmly set on Greece’s trajectory toward 2030.

A Constitution for the next decade

Mitsotakis repeatedly referred to the Constitution as the country’s “social contract”, emphasizing transparency, accountability and adaptability to modern challenges such as artificial intelligence and climate change.

The subtext is clear: the government seeks to present itself as the architect of long-term stability, positioning constitutional change as a legacy project rather than a short-term political maneuver.

National Diploma: Education reform with political weight

Equally significant is the announcement that dialogue on the National High School Diploma will begin in February. While framed as an educational reform, the initiative carries clear political implications.

The Prime Minister was careful to reassure:

• University entrance exams will remain
• Current students will not be affected
• Implementation horizon starts in 2027–2028

Yet the broader ambition is unmistakable: to redefine the role of upper secondary education, shifting it away from a narrow exam-preparation model toward a system emphasizing skills, autonomy and real-world readiness.

Government insiders admit the reform is high-risk but potentially high-reward, particularly with middle-class families and younger voters, for whom education remains a decisive political issue.

Social signaling and policy balance

The inclusion of the €18.6 million renovation of the Athens Student Dormitory in the Prime Minister’s review was not incidental. It reinforces the government’s attempt to balance institutional reform with visible social investment, particularly for lower-income households.

In political terms, it strengthens the narrative that structural change is paired with tangible improvements in everyday life.

The broader political message

This was not a routine weekly briefing. It was a statement of intent.

Through Constitutional Revision, Mitsotakis positions himself as a prime minister of institutional reform. Through education policy, he appeals to future-oriented voters and the middle class.

The unresolved question now shifts to the opposition: Will it engage constructively in dialogue, or turn these initiatives into a new front of political polarization?

Either way, the government appears ready to play the long game — and has clearly signaled that the next phase of Greek politics will be fought on institutional, educational and generational terrain.

Source: pagenews.gr