Greece
Hellenic Parliament
Oversight
Data on parliament’s oversight role and activities
Oversight tools
Parliament has the power to summon members of the government
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders, Article 37 par. 5 (Presence at sittings of Standing Committees), article 43A par. 2a (Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency) and article 147 (Investigation Committees)
Certain restrictions to Parliament’s ability to prosecute government ministers for criminal offenses have been abolished via 2019 Constitutional amendments (Constitution, Art 86 (3)).
Certain restrictions to Parliament’s ability to prosecute government ministers for criminal offenses have been abolished via 2019 Constitutional amendments (Constitution, Art 86 (3)).
Parliament has the power to summon senior government officials
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders, Article 38 par. 2 (Hearings of non-parliamentarians), article 43A par. 2a (Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency) and article 147 (Investigation Committees)
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments
Key government appointments include, for example, ambassadors or the head of the central bank.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders, Article 49A (Committee on state-owned enterprises, banks, public utility enterprises and social security agencies)
The majority required for selecting members of independent authorities (i.e. for the Ombudsman), has been reduced from 4/5 to 3/5 via 2019 Constitutional amendments (Constitution, Art. 101A(2)).
The majority required for selecting members of independent authorities (i.e. for the Ombudsman), has been reduced from 4/5 to 3/5 via 2019 Constitutional amendments (Constitution, Art. 101A(2)).
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval
50
Number of written questions asked, per year
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
Parliament has power to carry out inquiries
Yes
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders, Articles 144-148 (Investigation Committees) and article 43A pars 2a and 7 (Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency)
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
1 (2019)
See historical data for this field.
Head of State and/or Government
Head of State and/or Government
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government
Some parliaments elect the Head of Government or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Other (please specify)
Notes
The Government must enjoy the confidence of Parliament. The Government shall be obliged to request a vote of confidence by Parliament within fifteen days of the date the Prime Minister shall have been sworn in, and may also do so at any other time. If at the time the Government is formed, Parliament has suspended its works, it shall be convoked within fifteen days to resolve on the motion of confidence.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 84 par. 1 of the Constitution, article 141 of the Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders.
The Head of Government is also the Head of State
No
Parliament’s role
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State
Some parliaments designate the Head of State or approve the nomination for the Head of Government. Others do not play a role.
Parliament elects the Head of State
Notes
Based on 2019 Constitutional amendments, electing the President of the Republic no longer requires enhanced majority voting in Parliament.
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 32(4) of the Constitution, Article 140 of the Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders.
Impeachment and confidence motions
Procedure for parliament
There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution
There is a procedure to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; The Head of State; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
Individual members of the Executive
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 86 of the Constitution, articles 153-158 of the Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders.
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Not applicable
Impeachment Role
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution
There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: Not applicable (there is no procedure); The whole Government; The Head of Government; Individual members of the Executive; Other (please specify)
The whole Government
Individual members of the Executive
Source
Legal documents that stipulate parliament's role.
Article 84 pars. 2-7 of the Constitution, article 142 of the Hellenic Parliament Standing Orders.
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence
In bicameral parliaments: Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber; Upper chamber; Not applicable
Not applicable
Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted
In some countries, the adoption of a motion of no confidence in the Government automatically leads to the dissolution of Parliament in certain countries. In other cases, a new government can be formed.
No