The Dynamics of Parliamentary System when Majority

is not reached in Greece

Inthepastlectureswehavelearnedaboutthedifferentwaystoestablishthe
structureofgovernmentnamely,theruleswithinandthehierarchytobefollowedto
passandenactlaws.Emphasisliesonboththepresidentialsystemandtheparliamentary
system.Namely,Americaspresidentialsystemseemstobeanexceptiontotheworlds
trendbut that been said, that is due to the fact most of the worlds countries that
followedtheparliamentarysystem,toanextend,werewithinBritishinfluence.Inthis
article,IwillgointothesituationinAthenswiththeGreekcrisisandhowitsgovernment
reactstothem.
Greeceisstructuredinaunitaryparliamentaryrepublic,leadbythepresident,
whois the nominal headofstate,andthe prime minister,whichlikein manyother
parliamentarystructures,holdsmostofthepoliticalpower. Thisroleisobtainedbya
voteofconfidence,andisheldtheleaderofthemajorityparty.
In lecture we have talked that the more parties the more dysfunctional a
governmentcanbe,forthearemultipleinterestsinplay,oftenconflicting,andoften
creatingavacuumonpowerthatisntaddressbytheinactionofcoordinationbetweenthe
parts. In short, the inability of holding the majority, as well as creating a coalition
between the parties, is detrimental to government. And that is what is happening in
Greecetoday;thedebateregardingthefinancialbailoutwiththeEUhasdividedthe
government, so much that the leftist party Tsiprass own party has fragmented; two

parties have been offspring his, SYRIZA. That led to the current eventuality: the
inabilitytogaintheneededmajority.

TheGreekconstitutionhassafeguardsIplacewhenamajorityisnotreached;in
thiscasethepresidentappointstheinterimgovernment,andundersaidconstitution,one
ofpresidentsofthethreeGreekSupremeCourtsmustbecometheinterimprimeminister.
VassilikiThanouwasthesittingpresident,andnowcurrentPrimeMinister.
However,allisnotlost,forTsiprasmaybeabletostillregainhispreviouspost.
But,accordingGermantabloidBild,anewpartyisgaininganunexpected8%;thatalone
possesathreattotheprospectiveofwinningthemajority.Andagain,thisshowsoneof
thedisadvantagesofthistypeofgovernment,forobtainingamajoritycanbeveryhard
whenthepoliticalclimatecomesaspolarizedasinGreece,makingtheprospectofthe
countryasungovernablenotentirelyunlikely.Neverthelessitshowsthatpresidents,even
ifnominalheadsofstate,dohaveatthespecialtime,theauthoritytoenactchangesto
bringasenseofstability.Afterall,lastweekthemajoritywasunabletobeestablishing,
leadingtheclausethatmadethePresidentoftheCourtPrimeMinister.