GREECE - POLITICS

Contemporary political system

Executive branch

Chief of State: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005, next to be held by February 2010) Head of Government: Prime Minister Konstandinos (Kostas) KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister Foreign Minister: Dora Bakoyannis

Legislative branch

unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon (300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms, next to be held by 2011- ND 41.8%, PASOK 38.1%, KKE 8.2%)

Judicial branch

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Military branches

Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA)

Helenic Navy

Helenic Navy - source  

International organization participation Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Political parties and leaders

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally or LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Ioannis PANAGOPOULOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Dimitris DASKALOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]

Last national elections 2007

Last national elections 2007

http://www.parties-and-elections.de/greece.html

Last European Parliament election June 2009 See: • http://www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/f/france/greece-european-parliament-election-2009.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2009_(Greece)http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/archive/elections2009/en/greece_en.html