Who can initiate an optional referendum at the national level?
Greece
- Government
- Legislative majority
CONSTITUTION OFGREECE
(Adopted1975; last amended 2008)
Article 44
2.The President of the Republic shall by decree proclaim a referendum on crucialnational matters following aresolution voted by an absolute majority of the total number of Members ofParliament, taken upon proposal of the Cabinet.
A referendum on Bills passed by Parliamentregulating important social matters, with the exception of the fiscal ones,shall be proclaimed by decree by the President of the Republic, if this is decided bythree-fifths of the total number of its members, following a proposal oftwo-fifths of the total number of its members, and as the Standing Orders andthe law for the application of the present paragraph provide. (…)
The process begins with a proposal from theCabinet (for crucial national issues), or two-fifths of the entire legislature(for existing laws on important social issues).
Ifthe proposal originates in the Cabinet, the legislature must approve it by an absolute majoritybefore it is sent to the President. If the proposal originates in thelegislature, three-fifthsof the entire legislature must approve it before it is sent to thePresident.
No referendum will take place unless alegislative majority approves the proposal. Once alegislative majority gives its support, the President, by Article 44(2), mustproclaim a referendum.
