Local government elections: Mayors and regional governors elected in the first round, electronic voting

Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios announced sweeping changes to the framework for elections, governance, and operations of Local Government Organizations (LGOs), with electronic voting as a central feature. This announcement took place at the Central Union of Greek Municipalities’ Annual Conference in Rhodes.

While presenting the main points of the new Unified Local Government Code to LGO representatives, Livanios emphasized that these changes would not be just a reform on paper but a true tool to help local authorities stand on stronger ground, address dysfunctions, and improve for the benefit of all citizens.

Summary of Proposed Changes

The most notable changes, which are now the foundation for drafting the new Unified Local Government Code, include the following:

A. Election Process Reforms for Local Authorities – Election of Municipal and Regional Authorities in a Single Round

• Single Round of Voting: Municipal and regional authorities will now be elected in one round. Voters can choose a primary and secondary option within the same ballot. If no candidate receives 50% + 1 of the valid primary votes, the top two candidates will move to a second vote count, where the secondary votes of eliminated candidates will be added to the totals of the top two. The winning candidate is either the one who secures 50% + 1 in the first round or has the most votes in the second phase.
• Optional Electronic Voting for Municipal and Regional Elections: Following the introduction of postal voting in the 2024 European elections, the Ministry of the Interior announced optional electronic voting for local elections, while maintaining traditional in-person voting.
• Early Elections for Remaining Term within the First 3 Years of a 5-Year Term: Early elections will be possible if 4/5 of the council and the mayor or regional governor agree, addressing administrative paralysis when councilors become independent.
• Additional Candidates Without Preference Votes: Candidates can nominate extra councilors as follows: one additional councilor in councils with up to 19 members, two in councils with 25 to 39 members, and three in councils with 43 members. These additional candidates are only elected if their ticket wins.
• Youth Quotas for Candidates under 30: Aiming to increase youth participation in local government affairs.
• Elimination of Secondment for Elected Public Servants: Election positions will no longer be grounds for secondment, helping maintain staffing levels in public services.
• Reduction of Councilor Candidates to 50% Over Seats: The current requirement allows a candidate list to include up to 150% of the seats; this will be reduced to 50%. For example, in a 31-member council, lists will now have a maximum of 47 candidates.
• Unified Election of Municipal Councilors: Municipal councilors will be elected across the entire municipality, rather than by smaller districts, aligning with the 2010 “Kallikratis” reform.
• Unified Filing Fee for Candidates: Fees will be proportionate to the municipality’s or region’s population.
• Elections on the Last Sunday in November: This will reduce the gap between election day and the new council taking office, minimizing the risk of power vacuums.

B. Changes to Governance, Elective Officials’ Status, Oversight, Responsibilities, and Financial Management

• Mandatory Public Consultation: All regulatory actions must undergo public consultation before submission to the council.
• Online Local Referendums: Electronic referendums will be mandatory for topics under municipal jurisdiction.
• Appointment of an Administrative Secretary for Municipalities over 200,000 Residents: This new position aims to strengthen governance in larger municipalities.
• Increased Allowances and Professional Restrictions: Mayors and deputy mayors will receive higher allowances, and mayors of towns with over 20,000 residents must suspend professional activities and take a leave of absence for their entire term.
• Removal of Geographic Jurisdiction for Legality Auditors: Legality auditors will now be randomly assigned, with coordination handled by the General Supervisor of Legality for LGOs.
• Expedited Legality Review: Legality review decisions must now be issued within 10 days.
• Retained Municipal Fees for Public Services and Introduction of a Local Development Fee: This new fee, replacing municipal and property taxes, will be used for a variety of expenses and investments and set freely by each municipality.
• Preemptive Audits by the Court of Auditors for Transactions over €15,000: Transactions above this amount will require a pre-emptive audit.
• Establishment of a Centralized Revenue Management Center: This center, under the Central Union of Greek Municipalities, will track all outstanding debts to municipalities, facilitate electronic payments, and work with public agencies to ensure efficient revenue collection.
• Reallocation of Responsibilities Among Municipalities, Regions, Decentralized Administrations, and the Central Government: Based on the locality, efficiency, and a priority framework, responsibilities will be distributed to the most capable bodies.

The dialogue to update the local government framework, a government commitment, has already begun. The committee responsible for reviewing proposals from various entities met for the first time on Monday, November 4. This committee includes representatives from local government, judicial authorities, academics, and officials from both LGOs and the Ministry of the Interior.

To assist the process, the Ministry of the Interior has established a Unit for Drafting and Implementing the Local Government Code, ensuring the code’s timely completion.

Source: protothema.gr–christos mpokas