Who Needs a Constitution? Greek Government To Legislate by Decree

July 28, 2013 • 11:57AM

Fearing that more Troika-dictated "reforms" will lead to failure of the Greek government, Athens has submitted an amendment to Parliament that would allow the government to legislate any changes to the organization and operation of ministries, public services, and local authorities via presidential decrees, without having to submit legislation to the Parliament. The legislation follows the recent vote on an amendment to the legislation demanded by the Troika concerning dismissal of public sector workers. While the legislation passed by a narrow majority, two MPs from the ruling New Democracy abstained. The coalition only has 157 seats of the 300-seat Parliament.

The fact that the legislation was signed by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras who is not an elected MP, and Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, makes it pretty clear that this was motivated by the EC-ECB-IMF Troika. This move is in step with the demands outlined in a 16-page JP Morgan report calling European economic stability through the end of "post-fascist" constitutions.

The legislation will be debated at committee level on July 29, after which it will be discussed by the plenary on July 31 and Aug. 1.

The report of this undemocratic legislation follows the approval by the Eurozone working group of the release of EU2.5 billion from the European Financial Stability Facility (ESFS) and EU1.5 billion euros in profits from the European Central Bank's bond-buying program by July 29, subject to formal approval from the German Parliament.