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Do not fill this in! == Politics == {{Main|Politics of Greece}} {{multiple image |align = right |total_width = 300 |image1 = President Sakellaropoulou.jpg |caption1 = [[Katerina Sakellaropoulou]]<br>[[President of Greece]] |image2 = Kyriakos Mitsotakis (2021-12-08) 03 (cropped).jpg |caption2 = [[Kyriakos Mitsotakis]]<br>[[Prime Minister of Greece]] }} [[File:Hellenic Parliament from high above.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The building of the [[Hellenic Parliament]] ([[Old Royal Palace]]) in central [[Athens]]]] [[File:Kapodistrias2.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Count [[Ioannis Kapodistrias]], first governor, founder of the modern Greek State, and distinguished European diplomat]] Greece is a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[parliamentary republic]].<ref name="con51,53">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gr/english/politeuma/syntagma.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925181747/http://www.parliament.gr/english/politeuma/syntagma.pdf |archive-date=25 September 2007 |title=Syntagma |language=el |access-date=2 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The current [[Constitution of Greece|Constitution]] was drawn up and adopted by the Fifth Revisionary Parliament of the Hellenes and entered into force in 1975 after the fall of the [[Greek military junta of 1967–1974|military junta of 1967–1974]]. It has been revised four times since: in [[Greek constitutional amendment of 1986|1986]], [[Greek Constitutional amendment of 2001|2001]], [[Greek constitutional amendment of 2008|2008]] and 2019. The Constitution, which consists of 120 articles, provides for a [[separation of powers]] into [[executive branch|executive]], [[legislative branch|legislative]], and [[judicial branch]]es, and grants extensive specific guarantees (further reinforced in 2001) of [[civil liberties]] and [[social rights]].{{Sfn | Dagtoglou | 1991 | p = 21}}{{Sfn | Venizelos | 2002 | pp = 131–32, 165–72}} [[Women's suffrage]] was guaranteed with an amendment to the 1952 Constitution. The nominal head of state is the [[President of Greece|President of the Republic]], who is elected by the [[Hellenic Parliament|Parliament]] for a five-year term.<ref name="con51,53" /> According to the Constitution, executive power is exercised by the President and the [[Cabinet of Greece|Government]].<ref name="con51,53" /> However, the [[Greek Constitutional amendment of 1986|Constitutional amendment of 1986]] curtailed the President's duties and powers to a significant extent, rendering the position largely ceremonial; most political power is thus vested in the Prime Minister, Greece's head of government.<ref name="M477-478">{{Harvnb | Mavrias | 2002 | pp = 477–78, 486–87}}</ref> The position is filled by the [[List of Prime Ministers of Greece|current leader]] of the [[List of political parties in Greece|political party]] that can obtain a vote of confidence by the Parliament. The president of the republic formally appoints the prime minister and, on their recommendation, appoints and dismisses the other members of the Cabinet.<ref name="con51,53" /> Legislative powers are exercised by a 300-member elective [[unicameralism|unicameral Parliament]].<ref name="con51,53" /> Statutes passed by the Parliament are promulgated by the President of the Republic.<ref name="con51,53" /> [[Elections in Greece#Election of the legislature|Parliamentary elections]] are held every four years, but the President of the Republic is obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier on the proposal of the Cabinet, in view of dealing with a national issue of exceptional importance.<ref name="con51,53" /> The President is also obliged to dissolve the Parliament earlier if the opposition manages to pass a [[motion of no confidence]].<ref name="con51,53" /> The [[voting age]] is 17.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wFHp_31M9ESQXdtvSoClrL8NXGWS3cU8Kt5MXD0LzQTLWPU9yLzB8V68knBzLCmTXKaO6fpVZ6Lx9hLslJUqeiQT0KQWhles74cYXM24iMng4dV6SZbxmK4oRQd575yNXQ. |script-title=el:Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως τη Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας |volume=A |issue=133 |date=27 July 2016 |publisher=National Publishing House |location=Athens |language=el |trans-title=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic]] |access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref> According to a 2016 report by the OECD, Greeks display a moderate level of civic participation compared to most other developed countries; voter turnout was 64 percent during recent elections, lower than the OECD average of 69 percent.<ref>{{cite web|title=OECD Better Life Index -Greece|url=http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/greece/|website=w.oecdbetterlifeindex.org|publisher=OECD|access-date=20 February 2018}}</ref> === Political parties === {{Main|List of political parties in Greece}} Since the restoration of democracy, the Greek party system was dominated by the liberal-conservative [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]] (ND) and the social-democratic [[PASOK|Panhellenic Socialist Movement]] (PASOK).{{Refn | group = lower-alpha | For a diachronic analysis of the Greek party system,<ref>{{Harvnb | Pappas | 2003 | pp = 90–114}}</ref> who distinguishes three distinct types of party system which developed in consecutive order, namely, a predominant-party system (from 1952 to 1963), a system of polarised pluralism (between 1963 and 1981), and a two-party system (since 1981).}} Other parties represented in the [[Hellenic Parliament]] include the [[Syriza|Coalition of the Radical Left]] (SYRIZA), the [[Communist Party of Greece]] (KKE), [[Greek Solution]] and [[MeRA25]]. PASOK and New Democracy largely alternated in power until the outbreak of the [[Greek government-debt crisis|government-debt crisis]] in 2009. From that time, the two major parties, New Democracy and PASOK, experienced a sharp decline in popularity.<ref name="Political Climate and Governance December 2011">{{cite news | place = GR | url = http://www.vprc.gr/uplds/File/teleytaia%20nea/Epikaira/Political%20Climate%20and%20Governance_December2011.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120425150133/http://www.vprc.gr/uplds/File/teleytaia%20nea/Epikaira/Political%20Climate%20and%20Governance_December2011.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date = 25 April 2012 | title = Πολιτική Συγκυρία & Διακυβέρνηση |trans-title=Political climate & governance | date= 22 December 2011 | publisher = VPRC |access-date=22 December 2011}}</ref><ref name="Political Climate and Governance January 2012">{{cite news | url = http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/Political_Conjuncture_and_Governance_Jan2012.pdf | title = Πολιτική Συγκυρία & Διακυβέρνηση | trans-title = Political conjuncture & governance | place = GR | date = 26 January 2012 | work = VPRC | access-date = 26 January 2012 | archive-date = 23 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923235341/http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/Political_Conjuncture_and_Governance_Jan2012.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Panhellenic Research for ET3">{{cite news | url = http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/ToThePoint-Ert3_30-1-12.pdf | title = Πανελλαδικη Ερευνα για την ET3 | date = 29 January 2012 | work = To The Point | access-date = 29 January 2012 | place = GR | archive-date = 24 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010522/http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/ToThePoint-Ert3_30-1-12.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Research from Pulse RC for Pontiki">{{cite news | via = Ek logika | place = GR | url = http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/PulseRC-ToPontiki_2-2-2012.pdf | title = Ερευνα της Pulse RC για το Ποντικι | date = 2 February 2012 | publisher = Pulse RC | access-date = 2 February 2012 | archive-date = 23 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150923235437/http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/PulseRC-ToPontiki_2-2-2012.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Varometro Feb 2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/varometro_2_12.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226224630/http://www.eklogika.gr/uploads/files/Dimoskopiseis/varometro_2_12.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2012 |url-status=live |title = Πολιτικό Βαρόμετρο 99 |trans-title=Political barometer |date=7 February 2012 |work= Public Issue | publisher = Ek logika |access-date=7 February 2011}}</ref> In November 2011, the two major parties joined the smaller [[Popular Orthodox Rally]] in a [[grand coalition]], pledging their parliamentary support for a [[government of national unity]] headed by former [[European Central Bank]] vice-president [[Lucas Papademos]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Lucas Papademos named as new Greek prime minister |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15671354 |work=BBC News |date=10 November 2011 |access-date=10 November 2011}}</ref> [[Panos Kammenos]] voted against this government and he split off from ND forming the [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] [[Independent Greeks]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ousted New Democracy MP starts own party |newspaper=Ekathimerini |date=24 February 2012 |url=http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_24/02/2012_429676}}</ref> The coalition government led the country to the [[Greek legislative election, May 2012|parliamentary elections of May 2012]]. The power of the traditional Greek political parties, [[PASOK]] and [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]], declined from 43% to 13% and from 33% to 18%, respectively. The left-wing [[SYRIZA]] became the second major party with an increase from 4% to 16%. No party could form a sustainable government, which led to the [[Greek legislative election, June 2012|parliamentary elections of June 2012]]. The result of the second elections was the formation of a coalition government composed of [[New Democracy (Greece)|New Democracy]] (29%), [[PASOK]] (12%) and [[Democratic Left (Greece)|Democratic Left]] (6%) parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.ypes.gr/UserFiles/f0ff9297-f516-40ff-a70e-eca84e2ec9b9/egk42_19062012.pdf |title=June 2012 Greek legislative election |access-date=19 May 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628235938/http://www.ypes.gr/UserFiles/f0ff9297-f516-40ff-a70e-eca84e2ec9b9/egk42_19062012.pdf |archive-date=28 June 2015 }}</ref> SYRIZA has since overtaken PASOK as the main party of the centre-left .<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EYQgDQAAQBAJ&q=syriza%2520pasok%2520centre-left&pg=PA94 |title=Radical Left Parties in Government: The Cases of SYRIZA and AKEL |last=Katsourides |first=Yiannos |date=22 September 2016 |publisher=Springer |isbn=9781137588418 |page=94 |language=en}}</ref> [[Alexis Tsipras]] led SYRIZA to victory in the [[Greek legislative election, January 2015|general election]] held on 25 January 2015, falling short of an outright majority in Parliament by just two seats.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30975437|title=Greece election: Anti-austerity Syriza wins election|work=BBC News|date=26 January 2015}}</ref> The following morning, Tsipras reached an agreement with [[Independent Greeks]] party to form a coalition and was sworn in as Prime Minister of Greece.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jan/26/greece-election-syriza-victory-alexis-tsipras-coalition-talks-live-updates|title=Alexis Tsipras sworn in as new Greek prime minister – as it happened|first1=Graeme Wearden until 4 15 pm|last1=GMT|first2=Mark|last2=Tran (now)|newspaper=The Guardian|date=26 January 2015|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> Tsipras called snap elections in August 2015 after resigning from his post, which led to a month-long caretaker administration headed by judge [[Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou]], Greece's first female prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.economywatch.gr/vassiliki-thanou-christophilou-became-greeces-first-female-prime-minister/|title=Vassiliki Thanou-Christophilou became Greece's first female Prime Minister | Economy Watch|first=D.|last=K|access-date=12 May 2021|archive-date=19 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219034341/https://www.economywatch.gr/vassiliki-thanou-christophilou-became-greeces-first-female-prime-minister/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the [[Greek legislative election, September 2015|September 2015 general election]], Alexis Tsipras led SYRIZA to another victory, winning 145 out of 300 seats<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34307795|title=Greece election: Alexis Tsipras hails 'victory of the people'|work=BBC News|date=21 September 2015}}</ref> and re-forming the coalition with the Independent Greeks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/greek-finance-minister-tsakalotos-takes-key-role-in-tsipras-new-cabinet/a-18731437|title=Greek Finance Minister Tsakalotos takes key role in Tsipras' new cabinet | DW | 23.09.2015|website=DW.COM}}</ref> However, he was defeated in the [[2019 Greek legislative election|July 2019 general election]] by [[Kyriakos Mitsotakis]] who leads New Democracy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/07/greeks-choose-between-beach-and-ballot-in-first-post-debt-bailout-poll|title=Greek elections: landslide victory for centre-right New Democracy party|date=7 July 2019|website=the Guardian}}</ref> On 7 July 2019, Kyriakos Mitsotakis was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Greece. He formed a centre-right government after the landslide victory of his New Democracy party.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/7/8/kyriakos-mitsotakis-sworn-in-as-greeces-new-prime-minister|title=New era as Mitsotakis is sworn in as Greece's new PM|website=www.aljazeera.com}}</ref> === Foreign relations === {{Main|Foreign relations of Greece}} [[File:Foreign relations of Greece.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Representation through:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/el-GR/Services/Directory/GreekAuthoritiesAbroad/#Β |script-title=el:Αρχές του Εξωτερικού |trans-title=Missions Abroad |publisher=Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs |language=el |access-date=2 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521050219/http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/el-GR/Services/Directory/GreekAuthoritiesAbroad/ |archive-date=21 May 2011 }}</ref><br />{{Color box|#3771c8|border=darkgray}} embassy<br />{{Color box|#aaccff|border=darkgray}} embassy in another country<br />{{Color box|#37c837|border=darkgray}} general consulate<br />{{Color box|#cccccc|border=darkgray}} no representation<br />{{Color box|black|border=darkgray}} Greece]] Greece's foreign policy is conducted through the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] and its head, the [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]], currently [[Nikos Dendias]]. Officially, the main aims of the Ministry are to represent Greece before other states and international organizations;<ref name="MFA mission">{{cite web |url= http://www.mfa.gr/en/the-ministry/structure/mission-and-competences.html |title=Mission and Competences |publisher= [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref> safeguard the interests of the Greek state and of its citizens abroad;<ref name="MFA mission" /> promote Greek culture;<ref name="MFA mission" /> foster closer relations with the [[Greek diaspora]];<ref name="MFA mission" /> and encourage international cooperation.<ref name="MFA mission" /> Greece is described as having a [[Special relationship (international relations)|special relationship]] with [[Cyprus]], [[Italy]], [[France]], [[Armenia]], [[Australia]], the [[State of Israel]], the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20151022-greece-hails-special-relationship-france-hollande-visit|title=france 24 – Greece hails 'special relationship' with France on Hollande visit – France 24|work=France 24|date=22 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Pavlopoulos and Mattarella confirm the longstanding Greek-Italian friendship (Παυλόπουλος και Ματαρέλα επιβεβαίωσαν τη μακρόχρονη ελληνοϊταλική φιλία) |url=http://www.documentonews.gr/article/paylopoylos-kai-matarela-epibebaiwsan-th-makroxronh-ellhnoitalikh-filia |publisher=documentonews.gr |access-date=5 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pavlopoulos – Mattarella: Strong friendship and a common vision between Greece and Italy (Παυλόπουλος – Ματαρέλα: Δυνατή φιλία και κοινή οπτική μεταξύ Ελλάδας και Ιταλίας) |date=17 January 2017 |url=http://news247.gr/eidiseis/politiki/paylopoylos-matarela-dynath-filia-kai-koinh-optikh-metaksu-elladas-kai-italias.4482614.html |publisher=news247.gr |access-date=2 January 2023 |archive-date=6 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306131743/http://news247.gr/eidiseis/politiki/paylopoylos-matarela-dynath-filia-kai-koinh-optikh-metaksu-elladas-kai-italias.4482614.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Greece-Italy alliance (Ελλάδα-Ιταλία συμμαχία) |url=http://makthes.gr/%CE%B5-%CE%B5-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1-%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%AF%CE%B1/ |publisher=makthes.gr |access-date=2 January 2023|archive-date=6 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306134643/http://makthes.gr/%CE%B5-%CE%B5-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%B4%CE%B1-%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%87%CE%AF%CE%B1/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A medal of honor for the Greek-Italian relations (Ενα παράσημο για τις ελληνοϊταλικές σχέσεις) |url=http://www.enet.gr/?i=news.el.article&id=400223 |publisher=enet.gr |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= How Greece Became One of America's—and Israel's—Closest Allies |date= 18 June 2019 |url= https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019/06/18/how-greece-became-one-of-americas-and-israels-closest-allies/ |publisher= washingtonmonthly.com |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> Following the resolution of the [[Macedonia naming dispute]] with the [[Prespa agreement]] in 2018, the Ministry identifies two remaining issues of particular importance to the Greek state: [[Aegean dispute|Turkish challenges to Greek sovereignty rights]] in the Aegean Sea and corresponding airspace and the [[Cyprus dispute]] involving the [[Turkish military forces in Northern Cyprus|Turkish occupation]] of [[Northern Cyprus]].<ref name="MFA issues">{{cite web|url=http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy-issues/|title=Foreign Policy Issues|publisher=[[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]]|access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref> There is a long-standing conflict between Turkey and Greece over natural resources in the eastern Mediterranean. Turkey does not recognize a legal [[continental shelf]] and [[exclusive economic zone]] around the Greek islands.<ref>{{cite news |title=Turkey threatens Greece over disputed Mediterranean territorial claims |url=https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-threatens-greece-over-disputed-mediterranean-territorial-claims/a-54828554 |work=Deutsche Welle |date=5 September 2020}}</ref> Additionally, due to its political and geographical proximity to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Greece is a country of significant geostrategic importance, which it has leveraged to develop a regional policy to help promote peace and stability in the [[Balkans]], the [[Mediterranean]], and the Middle East.<ref name="MFA regional policy">{{cite web |url= http://www.mfa.gr/en/foreign-policy/regional-policy/ | title= Regional Policy | publisher= [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Greece)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]] |access-date=23 February 2012}}</ref> This has accorded the country [[middle power]] status in global affairs.<ref name="Thanos-Veremēs">Thanos Veremēs (1997)[https://books.google.com/books?id=sn-yAAAAIAAJ The Military in Greek Politics] "Black Rose Books"</ref> Greece is a member of numerous international organizations, including the [[Council of Europe]], the [[European Union]], the [[Union for the Mediterranean]], the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]], the {{Lang|fr|[[Organisation internationale de la francophonie]]|italic=no}} and the United Nations, of which it is a founding member. === Military === {{Main|Hellenic Armed Forces}} {{multiple image | width1 = 195 | width2 = 185 | image1 = HAF F-16D Falcon.jpg | caption1 = An [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]], the main combat aircraft of the [[Hellenic Air Force]], during an airshow | image2 = Hellenic Army - LEO2A6HEL - 7231.jpg | caption2 = A [[Leopard 2]]A6 HEL of the [[Hellenic Army]] on parade in Athens }} The Hellenic Armed Forces are overseen by the [[Hellenic National Defense General Staff]] (Greek: Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας – ΓΕΕΘΑ), with civilian authority vested in the [[Ministry of National Defence (Greece)|Ministry of National Defence]]. It consists of three branches:<ref name="Agency 2013 p. 991">{{cite book | last=Agency | first=C.I. | title=The CIA World Factbook 2014 | publisher=Skyhorse | year=2013 | isbn=978-1-62873-451-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aFuCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT991 | access-date=14 February 2023 | page=991}}</ref> * [[Hellenic Army]] (Ellinikos Stratos, ES) * [[Hellenic Navy]] (Elliniko Polemiko Navtiko, EPN) * [[Hellenic Air Force]] (Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA) Moreover, Greece maintains the [[Hellenic Coast Guard]] for law enforcement at sea, search and rescue, and port operations. Though it can support the navy during wartime, it resides under the authority of the [[Ministry of Shipping (Greece)|Ministry of Shipping]]. Greek military personnel total 364,050, of whom 142,700 are active and 221,350 are reserve. Greece [[List of countries by number of military and paramilitary personnel|ranks 28th in the world]] in the number of citizens serving in the armed forces. [[Conscription in Greece|Mandatory military service]] is generally one year for 19 to 45 year olds.<ref>{{cite web|title=The World Factbook – Greece|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greece/ |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> Additionally, Greek males between the ages of 18 and 60 who live in strategically sensitive areas may be required to serve part-time in the National Guard. As a member of [[NATO]], the Greek military participates in exercises and deployments under the auspices of the alliance, although its involvement in NATO missions is minimal.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dempsey|first1=Judy|title=EU and NATO Look on at Greece's Pampered Armed Forces|url=http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/49185 |publisher=Carnegie Europe|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> Greece spends over US$7 billion annually on its military, or 2.3 percent of GDP, the [[List of countries by military expenditures|24th-highest in the world]] in absolute terms, the [[List of countries by military expenditure per capita|seventh-highest]] on a per capita basis, and the second-highest in NATO after the United States. Moreover, Greece is one of only five NATO countries to meet or surpass the minimum defence spending target of 2 percent of GDP. === Law and justice === {{Main|Judicial system of Greece|Law enforcement in Greece}} The [[Judicial system of Greece|judiciary]] is independent of the executive and the legislature and comprises three Supreme Courts: the [[Court of Cassation (Greece)|Court of Cassation]] (Άρειος Πάγος), the [[Council of State (Greece)|Council of State]] (Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας) and the [[Chamber of Accounts (Greece)|Court of Auditors]] (Ελεγκτικό Συνέδριο). The Judiciary system is also composed of civil courts, which judge civil and penal cases and administrative courts, which judge disputes between the citizens and the Greek administrative authorities. The [[Hellenic Police]] ({{lang-el|Ελληνική Αστυνομία}}) is the national police force of Greece. It is a very large agency with its responsibilities ranging from [[road traffic control]] to [[counter-terrorism]]. It was established in 1984 under Law 1481/1-10-1984 (Government Gazette 152 A) as the result of the fusion of the [[Hellenic Gendarmerie|Gendarmerie]] (Χωροφυλακή, ''Chorofylaki'') and the [[Cities Police]] (Αστυνομία Πόλεων, ''Astynomia Poleon'') forces.<ref>Law 1481/1 October 1984, ''Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic'', A-152</ref> === Administrative divisions === {{Main|Administrative divisions of Greece}} Since the [[Kallikratis programme]] reform entered into effect on 1 January 2011, Greece has consisted of 13 [[modern regions of Greece|regions]] subdivided into a total of 325, from 2019 332 ([[Kleisthenis I Programme]]), [[Municipalities of Greece|municipalities]]. The 54 old [[Prefectures of Greece|prefectures and prefecture-level administrations]] have been largely retained as ''[[regional units of Greece|sub-units]]'' of the regions. Seven [[Decentralized administrations of Greece|decentralised administrations]] group one to three regions for administrative purposes on a regional basis. There is also one [[autonomous area]], [[Mount Athos]] ({{lang-el|Agio Oros}}, "Holy Mountain"),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/syn15.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705000112/http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/f3c70a23-7696-49db-9148-f24dce6a27c8/syn15.pdf |archive-date=5 July 2011 |url-status=live |title=Σύνταγμα της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας |year=1927 |website=Hellenicparliament.gr |access-date= 21 May 2022}}</ref> which borders the region of [[Central Macedonia]].<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Robert |last=Draper |url=http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/athos/draper-text |title=Mount Athos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811023226/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/athos/draper-text |archive-date=11 August 2011 |magazine=[[National Geographic]] |date=December 2009 |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;" |- style="font-size:100%; text-align:center;" !Map !!No.!! [[modern regions of Greece|Region]]!! Capital!! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!! Area (sq mi)!!Population<ref name="2021CensusGRC">{{cite press release |title=Census 2021 GR|url=https://elstat-outsourcers.statistics.gr/Census2022_GR.pdf|publisher=[[Hellenic Statistical Authority]]|date=19 July 2022|access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref> !! GDP ([[1000000000 (number)|bn]])<ref name="Eurostat Regional GDP 2016">{{cite web | url = https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/8700651/1-28022018-BP-EN/15f5fd90-ce8b-4927-9a3b-07dc255dc42a | title = Regional GDP per capita ranged from 29% to 611% of the EU average in 2016 | year = 2016 | publisher = [[Eurostat]] |access-date=5 October 2018}}</ref> |- |rowspan="14"|[[File:Peripheries of Greece numbered.svg|400px|center]] || style="text-align:center;"| 1 || [[Attica (region)|Attica]] || [[Athens]] || style="text-align:right"|3,808.10|| style="text-align:right"|1,470.32|| style="text-align:right"|3,814,064 || style="text-align:right" |€83.469 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 2 || [[Central Greece (region)|Central Greece]] || [[Lamia (city)|Lamia]] ||style="text-align:right"|15,549.31|| style="text-align:right"|6,003.62||style="text-align:right"|508,254 || style="text-align:right" |€7.926 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 3 || [[Central Macedonia]] || [[Thessaloniki]] ||style="text-align:right"|18,810.52|| style="text-align:right"|7,262.78|| style="text-align:right"|1,795,669 || style="text-align:right" |€23.850 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 4 || [[Crete]] || [[Heraklion]] || style="text-align:right"|8,259||style="text-align:right"|3,189|| style="text-align:right"|624,408 || style="text-align:right" |€8.654 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 5 || [[East Macedonia and Thrace]] || [[Komotini]] || style="text-align:right"|14,157.76||style="text-align:right"|5,466.34|| style="text-align:right"|562,201 || style="text-align:right" |€6.709 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 6 || [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]] || [[Ioannina]] ||style="text-align:right"|9,203.22||style="text-align:right"|3,553.38|| style="text-align:right"|319,991 || style="text-align:right" |€3.843 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 7 || [[Ionian Islands (region)|Ionian Islands]] || [[Corfu (city)|Corfu]] ||style="text-align:right"|2,306.94|| style="text-align:right"|890.71||style="text-align:right"|204,532 || style="text-align:right" |€3.064 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 8 || [[North Aegean]] || [[Mytilene]] || style="text-align:right"|3,835.91||style="text-align:right"|1,481.05|| style="text-align:right"|194,943 || style="text-align:right" |€2.412 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 9 || [[Peloponnese (region)|Peloponnese]] || [[Tripoli, Greece|Tripoli]] ||style="text-align:right"|15,489.96|| style="text-align:right"|5,980.71||style="text-align:right"|539,535 || style="text-align:right" |€7.683 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 10 || [[South Aegean]] || [[Ermoupoli]] || style="text-align:right"|5,285.99||style="text-align:right"|2,040.93|| style="text-align:right"|327,820 || style="text-align:right" |€5.888 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 11 || [[Thessaly]] || [[Larissa]] || style="text-align:right"|14,036.64||style="text-align:right"|5,419.58|| style="text-align:right"|688,255 || style="text-align:right" |€9.006 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 12 || [[West Greece]] || [[Patras]] || style="text-align:right"|11,350.18||style="text-align:right"|4,382.33|| style="text-align:right"|648,220 || style="text-align:right" |€7.847 |- | style="text-align:center;"| 13 || [[West Macedonia]] || [[Kozani]] || style="text-align:right"|9,451||style="text-align:right"|3,649|| style="text-align:right"|254,595 || style="text-align:right" |€3.849 |- | style="text-align:center;"| (14) || [[Mount Athos]] || [[Karyes (Athos)|Karyes]] || style="text-align:right"|390||style="text-align:right"|151|| style="text-align:right"|1,746 || {{NA}} |} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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