The government has signalled its intention to extend postal voting to Greek citizens living abroad in national elections, marking a significant institutional reform of the country’s electoral system.
The announcement was made by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios during his address to Parliament in the context of the state budget debate.
Mr Livanios indicated that the relevant legislative provision is expected to be submitted in the near future and will build on the framework successfully applied during the most recent European Parliament elections, expanding it to include national electoral contests. He suggested that the measure is likely to be brought before Parliament within the first half of 2026.
Describing postal voting as a self-evident democratic reform, the Interior Minister stressed that the experience of the European elections demonstrated that the process can be implemented with full security, transparency and institutional integrity. He underlined that the initiative represents a decisive step towards full electoral equality, ensuring that Greek citizens are able to exercise their democratic rights regardless of where they reside.
Mr Livanios also called on all political parties to support what he described as a major democratic breakthrough, emphasising the importance of aligning the political system with the needs and expectations of Greek voters living overseas. According to the Minister, the reform would strengthen the bond between the Greek state and the diaspora, while enhancing overall democratic participation.
In parallel, the Interior Minister outlined key elements of the forthcoming new Local Government Code, noting that by the first quarter of 2026 local authorities will be operating under a single, modern and consolidated legislative framework. The new Code is expected to address governance and electoral arrangements, the functioning of collective bodies, the strengthening of participatory democracy, modern standards of financial management, and an objective institutional mechanism for legality oversight.
Mr Livanios explained that once the Code is completed, more than 1,000 fragmented and often overlapping provisions relating to local government will be abolished. This, he said, will provide elected officials and public servants with a clear, functional and legally secure framework. The overarching objectives of the reform, he concluded, are improved efficiency, enhanced transparency and the active participation of citizens in public life.
The announcements reflect a broader government agenda aimed at modernising Greece’s democratic institutions and reinforcing citizen engagement, both within the country and across the global Greek diaspora.
