Greek Parliament's Local Government Code Reform Sparks Public Debate

Greece's draft Local Government Code, a 761‑article bill from the Ministry of Interior, was opened for a 15‑day public consultation on opengov.gr and received more than 1,700 comments, far exceeding the usual response to other proposals. The most discussed provisions involve a overhaul of the electoral system for mayors and regional governors: the second round of voting would be eliminated and elections would be held on a single Sunday with an optional second‑preference option. Proponents argue the change will cut election costs, boost citizen participation and produce quicker results, while critics warn it may reduce democratic legitimacy and limit broader political consensus.

The draft also introduces a new combined Local Development Tax and Regional Development Tax, merging existing levies and tying them to property values. Many citizens fear the new “local ENFIA” could increase financial burdens on property owners and be passed on to renters, whereas some local officials view it as a step toward greater fiscal autonomy for municipalities. Additional contentious articles (138 and 730) concern mandatory legal actions by municipalities against ministries in labor disputes, prompting calls from contract workers for safeguards.

The legislation is slated for submission to the Hellenic Parliament for a vote in June.