Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis Initiates Landmark Constitutional Reform to Address 21st-Century Challenges

On Monday, February 2, 2026, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis formally announced the commencement of an extensive process to overhaul the nation’s 1975 Constitution. This pivotal decision was communicated through a nationwide televised address and further detailed in a formal letter directed to the members of the governing New Democracy (ND) party. The move signals a major effort by the administration to modernize the country's foundational legal framework in response to a rapidly changing global landscape.

The primary objective of this constitutional reform is to update the 1975 document so that it can effectively address contemporary global pressures, including the rise of artificial intelligence and the ongoing climate crisis. The head of government expressed his intention to implement "bold reforms" designed to align the supreme law with the socio-economic realities of 2026. Additionally, the reform aims to restructure the state sector to mitigate the influence of the so-called "deep state." Under the current rules, amending any constitutional article requires a qualified majority of three-fifths of the parliament, which equates to 180 deputies.

Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has been appointed to lead the coordination of the constitutional reform efforts, working in tandem with Professor Stelios Koutnatzis, the Secretary General to the Prime Minister. Within the parliamentary committee that is soon to be established, the role of rapporteur for the New Democracy party has been assigned to former minister Euripidis Stylianidis. The strategic coordination team also features State Minister Akis Skertsos, Deputy Minister Giorgos Mylonakis, and Government Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, who has already provided the initial timeline for the proceedings.

The proposed transformations target several critical aspects of the Greek state’s organization. A major focus is the revision of Article 86, which dictates the criminal liability of government ministers. The goal is to increase the involvement of career judges in these legal proceedings to ensure a higher degree of impartiality and transparency. Furthermore, the government seeks to dismantle what it describes as an "outdated monopoly" in the higher education sector. This would involve amending Article 16 of the Constitution, which currently stipulates that higher education is exclusively public and provided free of charge, thereby allowing for the legal establishment of private universities.

Other significant initiatives include the introduction of a unified six-year term for the President of the Republic and the strengthening of judicial independence regarding the appointment of senior court leadership. These proposals follow a statement made by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias on February 1, 2026, emphasizing the necessity of reinforcing national institutions. The procedural roadmap specifies that New Democracy lawmakers will submit their individual proposals by the end of February, with the party’s comprehensive draft expected in March. Formal deliberations within the parliamentary Preliminary Revision Committee are scheduled to begin in April.

The Constitution of Greece, which has been the law of the land since June 11, 1975, has previously undergone significant revisions in 1986 and 2001. This latest initiative by the Mitsotakis administration represents a major political undertaking aimed at the institutional renewal of the parliamentary republic. Given the high threshold for constitutional changes, the success of this endeavor will depend on achieving a broad political consensus within the Hellenic Parliament.

The push for modernization reflects a strategic desire to make the Greek state more resilient against technological disruptions and environmental shifts. By revising the foundational law, the government hopes to create a more agile governance structure that can better serve the needs of its citizens in the mid-21st century. The inclusion of high-ranking officials like Akis Skertsos and Pavlos Marinakis in the coordination phase underscores the high priority the administration places on this institutional transition.

As the legislative process unfolds throughout the spring of 2026, the focus will remain on how these "bold reforms" will be received by the opposition and the public. The transition from the post-dictatorship framework of 1975 to a modern, digitally-aware legal structure marks a significant chapter in Greek political history. The upcoming months will determine whether the proposed changes to Article 16 and Article 86 will garner the necessary support to redefine the nation's legal and educational landscape for future generations.