Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Kotsiras described the introduction of the postal voting as "a milestone, and a truly progressive institutional reform”, addressing the plenary session of the Parliament today during the debate on the Ministry of Interior's draft law: "Election of MEPs, facilitation of voters through postal voting, updating of electoral rolls, and other provisions".
Mr. Kotsiras emphasised that postal voting has been a long-standing demand of Diaspora Greeks, who "very warmly" welcomed this legislative initiative. The Deputy Minister stated that its implementation in national elections is the "final, essential step" in order to achieve "real equality" in the connection between Greeks abroad and the metropolitan centre and called on the parliamentary parties to vote in favour of it. “What is our disagreement, our difference, when it comes to an important national capital that defends the interests of our homeland, which is the voice of Greece abroad, the best ambassadors of Hellenism", Mr. Kotsiras asked.
The postal voting process is part of Kyriakos Mitsotakis' Government's broader agenda for Greeks abroad, the Deputy Minister underlined, referring to a series of recent initiatives to support Greeks living abroad and improve their daily life. In particular, he highlighted the creation of a special section on gov.gr portal for Greeks Abroad, the consular services’ digital transformation and the upgrade of staellinika.com, an online platform for teaching the Greek language. He made special reference to the Strategic Plan for the Greek Diaspora, a "broader, coherent policy" for Greeks living abroad. "Our effort to bring our compatriots even closer to the metropolitan centre is not fragmentary, it is structured, coherent and coordinated", Mr. Kotsiras pointedly stated.
"I consider it our duty as a political system, as an overall parliamentary system, to be able to agree that this bill will become a law of the state", thereby sending "an important message to our compatriots living abroad" given that it is "an issue of national significance, a symbolic and essential issue", the Deputy Minister concluded.
January 23, 2024