Tsipras strategises to avert an electoral routing

With the government trailing behind main opposition New Democracy in all opinion polls, despite a barrage of pledges and social benefits, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is attempting to divert attention from the highly unpopular Prespa Agreement to other issues, such as the planned revision of the Greek Constitution by the next parliament.

It is hoped that the revision, which includes the amendment of provisions on Church-State relations, will bolster his image as a reformer.

At the same time, the PM is expected to proceed with a cabinet reshuffle by the end of the month, to give the government a makeover ahead of what promises to be an extremely polarised and grueling electoral campaign.

Tsipras believes that in tackling the constitutional amendments (this parliament will simply choose the articles to be amended and the next parliament will finalise and vote on the changes), he can burnish his progressive image.

Tsipras has made no secret of his intention of attracting centre-left voters  to SYRIZA, and he will try to use the amendment process to further divide the centre-left Movement for Change, the successor to Pasok.

If the choice of a certain article for revision is approved now with a two-thirds majority (180 votes), then it can be amended in the next parliament with an absolute majority of 151 votes. If the revision of an article garners only 151 votes now, it will require a two-thirds majority in the next parliament to revise it definitively.

Electing the President

The focus of the parliamentary debate on the amendments is now on Article 32, which pertains to the election of the President of the Republic by Parliament. Both SYRIZA and New Democracy agree that the article should be amended so as not...