Official state services that would ostensibly participate activities for a referendum, called by the Greek PM for Sunday July 5, are on standby. The procedure of a referendum will be the same as in the recent Jan. 25 snap elections with voters required to go to polling booths with their identity cards or passports. Holiday leave given to judicial officials, police and others will be be revoked if the referendum actually transpires.
The cost of the referendum will be roughly 60 million euros – the same amount spent for the national elections of January 25.
PAST REFERENDUMS IN GREECE
– The last referendum held in Greece was on Dec. 8, 1974, months after the collapse of the military junta that ruled the country from 1967 through to July 194. The junta had staged a plebiscite on July 29, 1973, which resulted in the establishment of a republic and the end of the constitutional monarchy. After the fall of the military regime, the new government, under Constantine Karamanlis, decided to hold another one, given that democracy had been restored. On the day of the referendum the electorate voted in favor of a Parliamentary republic.
– The referendum, held under a military dictatorship and thus rendered void, took place on July 29, 1973, when a majority vote ousted an already self-exiled King Constantine, essentially abolishing the monarchy in Greece. The results of the referendum showed that 3,870,124 people (77.52%) voted no to the monarchy.
– A constitutional referendum was held in Greece on November 15, 1968. Voters were asked whether they wished to ratify a new constitution prepared by the dictatorial regime led by Col. George Papadopoulos. A totalitarian regime figure of … 92.1% of voters approved the new constitution with 4,713,421 votes in favor.
– In the fourth referendum in the country on the monarchy since 1920 was held on September 1, 1946. The proposal was approved by 68.4% of voters – 1,136,289 people said Yes, double the 524,771 people who were against the proposal.
– Another referendum on restoring the monarchy was held on November 3, 1935, with the proposal approved by 97.9% of voters (1,491,992 people) — a figure reminiscent of “votes” in the Soviet Union of the era (…Stalin).
– Following the catastrophic outcome of the Asia Minor Campaign in 1922, which dashed Greek hopes of expanding into western Asia Minor, a referendum on becoming a republic was held in Greece on April 13, 1924, with 758,472 votes in favor and 325,322 votes against.
– A referendum on the return of King Constantine I was held in Greece on November 22, 1920, following the untimely and accidental (monkey bite…) death of his son and successor, King Alexander. A North Korea-like … 99% of voters were the restoration of the deposed monarch, with 999,954 people voting ‘Yes’. The result ensured and affirmed the dominance of the anti-Venizelist camp in the country at the specific moment (1921). The pandemonium that accompanied his return was short lived as he was opposed by the former Entente (England, France, Italy) because of his perceived pro-German neutrality during WWI, and as a result, disastrous military events led to to the Asia Minor catastrophe in August 1922.
