Politics in Greece
Conventional Long Form Name: Hellenic Republic
Capital City: Athens
Type of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Date of Independence: 25 March 1830
National Holiday(s): Independence Day, 25 March
Capital City: Athens
Type of Government: Parliamentary Republic
Date of Independence: 25 March 1830
National Holiday(s): Independence Day, 25 March
Executive Branch/Powers: The President is elected by Parliament every 5 years, the President appoints the Prime Minister, and the President forms his cabinet with the guidance of the Prime Minister
Legislative Branch/Powers: Unicameral Parliament, there are 300 seats, members are elected every four years through direct popular vote
Judicial Branch/Powers: Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law as the highest court (consists of 56 judges), members of the Supreme Court selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, judges elected for life terms following a two-year probationary period
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Ambassador to the US: Christos P. Panagopoulous
Location of Embassy in the US: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Consulate(s) in the US: Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
US ambassador to Greece: David D. Pearce
Location of US Embassy in Greece: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
US Consulate(s) in Greece: Thessaloniki
Representative to UN: Michalis Spinellis
Legislative Branch/Powers: Unicameral Parliament, there are 300 seats, members are elected every four years through direct popular vote
Judicial Branch/Powers: Hellenic Supreme Court of Civil and Penal Law as the highest court (consists of 56 judges), members of the Supreme Court selected by the Supreme Judicial Council, judges elected for life terms following a two-year probationary period
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Ambassador to the US: Christos P. Panagopoulous
Location of Embassy in the US: 2217 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Consulate(s) in the US: Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans
US ambassador to Greece: David D. Pearce
Location of US Embassy in Greece: 91 Vasillisis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
US Consulate(s) in Greece: Thessaloniki
Representative to UN: Michalis Spinellis
Symbolism of Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; a blue square bearing a white cross appears in the upper hoist-side corner; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country; there is no agreed upon meaning for the nine stripes or for the colors; the exact shade of blue has never been set by law and has varied from a light to a dark blue over time
National Symbol(s): Greek cross
Description of International Disputes: Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy
Quantity of Refugees inside Country and Country of Origin of Refugees: N/A
Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 154 as of 2012
Description of Human Trafficking Issues: N/A
Description of Illicit Drug Trafficking/Use: A gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime
Description of International Disputes: Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia; the mass migration of unemployed Albanians still remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy
Quantity of Refugees inside Country and Country of Origin of Refugees: N/A
Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons: N/A
Quantity of Stateless Persons: 154 as of 2012
Description of Human Trafficking Issues: N/A
Description of Illicit Drug Trafficking/Use: A gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime