A constitutional referendum was held in Greece on 15 November 1968.[1] Voters were asked whether they wished to ratify a new constitution prepared by the dictatorial regime. It was approved by 92.1% of voters, with a voter turnout of 77.7%.[2]
On 16 December, Papadopoulos announced that the new constitution, which had been prepared by a committee of legal experts under Charilaos Mitrelias, President of the Council of State, was to be formally presented to the people on 16 March 1968, and subsequently confirmed by a plebiscite in summer. The original draft of the Mitrelias Committee, however, was deemed too liberal, and was heavily amended in the following months. In its final form, as presented on 11 July 1968, it retained the monarchy, but granted the armed forces autonomy from governmental and parliamentary control and entrusted them with the role of guardians of the status quo, it imposed restrictions on political parties and established a constitutional watchdog, the Constitutional Court, with wide-ranging powers, to regulate the country's political life.
The referendum itself was proclaimed for 29 September, and was regarded by the regime as a public vote of support on its policies. Participation was made obligatory and abstention punishable by imprisonment. The regime employed extensive propaganda in favour of a "yes" vote, while any opposition was silenced. The referendum's results were thus predictably in favour of the new constitution. The vote, despite obligatory participation, was still marked by a high abstention, which reached over 22%.
1968, greek, constitutional, referendum, constitutional, referendum, held, greece, november, 1968, voters, were, asked, whether, they, wished, ratify, constitution, prepared, dictatorial, regime, approved, voters, with, voter, turnout, november, 1968, 1968, re. A constitutional referendum was held in Greece on 15 November 1968 1 Voters were asked whether they wished to ratify a new constitution prepared by the dictatorial regime It was approved by 92 1 of voters with a voter turnout of 77 7 2 1968 Greek constitutional referendum15 November 1968 1968 11 15 ResultsChoice Votes Yes 4 713 421 92 11 No 403 829 7 89 Valid votes 5 117 250 99 68 Invalid or blank votes 16 656 0 32 Total votes 5 133 906 100 00 Registered voters turnout 6 606 111 77 71 Background editA military junta presided over by Colonel Georgios Papadopoulos had ruled Greece since a group of middle ranking officers staged a coup on 21 April 1967 King Constantine II reluctantly endorsed the coup but started preparing for a counter coup by elements of the armed forces loyal to him The counter coup launched on 13 December 1967 failed and the King and the royal family fled to Italy In the aftermath of the royal coup attempt the King was replaced by a regent General Georgios Zoitakis and Papadopoulos assumed the post of Prime Minister On 16 December Papadopoulos announced that the new constitution which had been prepared by a committee of legal experts under Charilaos Mitrelias President of the Council of State was to be formally presented to the people on 16 March 1968 and subsequently confirmed by a plebiscite in summer The original draft of the Mitrelias Committee however was deemed too liberal and was heavily amended in the following months In its final form as presented on 11 July 1968 it retained the monarchy but granted the armed forces autonomy from governmental and parliamentary control and entrusted them with the role of guardians of the status quo it imposed restrictions on political parties and established a constitutional watchdog the Constitutional Court with wide ranging powers to regulate the country s political life The referendum itself was proclaimed for 29 September and was regarded by the regime as a public vote of support on its policies Participation was made obligatory and abstention punishable by imprisonment The regime employed extensive propaganda in favour of a yes vote while any opposition was silenced The referendum s results were thus predictably in favour of the new constitution The vote despite obligatory participation was still marked by a high abstention which reached over 22 Results editChoiceVotes For4 713 42192 11Against403 8297 89Total5 117 250100 00Valid votes5 117 25099 68Invalid blank votes16 6560 32Total votes5 133 906100 00Registered voters turnout6 606 11177 71Source Nohlen amp StoverReferences edit Dieter Nohlen amp Philip Stover 2010 Elections in Europe A data handbook p830 ISBN 978 3 8329 5609 7 Nohlen amp Stover p838 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1968 Greek constitutional referendum amp oldid 1149692489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
