Government type: parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974
Capital: Athens
Administrative divisions: 51 prefectures (nomoi,
singular—nomos)and 1 autonomous region*; Ayion Oros* (Mt. Athos),
Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki,
Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis,
Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Kardhitsa,
Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios,
Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi,
Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza,
Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala,
Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos
Independence: 1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 25 March (1821) (proclamation of the war of independence)
Constitution: 11 June 1975
Legal system: based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Konstandinos (Kostis) STEPHANOPOULOS
(since 10 March 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos SIMITIS (since 19
January 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term;
election last held 10 March 1995 (next to be held by NA March 2000);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Konstandinos STEPHANOPOULOS elected president;
percent of Parliament vote—NA
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Vouli ton Ellinon
(300 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: elections last held 22 September 1996 (next to be held by
NA September 2000)
election results: percent of vote by party—PASOK 41.5%, ND 38.1%,
KKE 5.6%, Coalition of the Left and Progress 5.1%, DIKKI 4.4%,
Political Spring 2.9%; seats by party—PASOK 162, ND 108, KKE 11,
Coalition of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 9; note—seating has
subsequently changed as a result of disciplinary actions by PASOK,
ND, and DIKKI; 1998 seating is PASOK 162, ND 105, KKE 11, Coalition
of the Left and Progress 10, DIKKI 8, independents 4