
GREECE
PRESIDENCY OF THE PARLIAMENT

Chamber:
	Vouli Ton Ellinon
APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE
Title:
	Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament

Term:
	- duration: 4 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of the Parliament, adoption of motion of censure, incapacity on any ground for the discharge of his/her duties

Appointment:
	- elected by all Members of the Chamber - election held at the beginning of each parliamentary term - after the Members' mandates are validated and after Members are sworn in

Eligibility:
	- any Members can be candidate

Voting system:
	- formal vote by secret ballot - absolute majority is required - if no candidate is elected in the first round, only the two candidates with the largest number of votes are admitted in the second round

Procedures / results:
	- the interim Speaker presides over theChamber during the voting - 3 Members of the Parliament supervise the voting (2 of them belong to the majority party, the third to the opposition) - the interim Speaker announces the results without any delay - the results cannot be challenged

STATUS

Status:
	- ranks third in the hierarchy of State - may be called upon to replace the Head of State in the event of the latter's absence - represents the Chamber with the public authorities - represents the Chamber in international bodies - is the President ex officio of the Standing Orders Committee, the Parliament's Finance Committee, the Committee for Public Enterprise, Banks and Public Benefit Organizations - in the absence of the Speaker, a Deputy Speaker can assume his/her role and functions

Board:
	- the Bureau is composed of the Speaker, five Deputy Speakers, three Deans and six secretaries

Material facilities:
	- same salary as the Members of the Chamber + special allowance (40% of the MP salary) - official car - secretariat - police protection
FUNCTIONS

Organization of parliamentary business:
	- establishes and modifies the agenda - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - refers texts to a committee for study - proposes the setting up of committees of enquiry - convenes the committees

Chairing of public sittings:
	- can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Chamber - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Chamber - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates

Special powers:
	- introduces the Chamber's budget for debate and adoption - recruits, assigns and promotes staff - appoints the Clerk - organizes the services of Parliament - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber

Speaking and voting rights, other functions:
	- intervenes in the parliamentary oversight procedure - transmits to the competent Minister extracts of the ratified minutes that include the text of the adopted bill
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