The Greek parliament has overwhelmingly approved a landmark bill establishing postal voting for expatriates in future national elections, dismantling decades of ballot barriers for the country’s massive diaspora.
The Interior Ministry’s legislation successfully crossed the steep 200-vote constitutional threshold, securing 201 votes.
The historic passage was clinched after the opposition PASOK party backed the ruling New Democracy government, while the main opposition SYRIZA party abstained.
Under the new provisions, Greeks living overseas will now be able to mail unmarked party ballots or vote in person at embassies and consulates.
The overseas results will fold directly into the nationwide tally without individual candidate preferences.
The supermajority was ultimately secured by a critical bloc of 13 independent lawmakers.
This decisive group featured former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, alongside Athena Linou, Evangelos Apostolakis, Bourhan Baran, Panagiotis Paraskevasidis, Kyriaki Malama, Haris Katsivardas, Konstantinos Floros, and Michalis Chourdakis. Several prominent allies of Stefanos Kasselakis—including Rallia Christidou, Theodora Tzakri, and Giota Pavlou—also backed the measure.
The Plefsi Eleftherias party supported select articles within the bill.
Despite the broad consensus, a separate provision seeking to create a dedicated tripartite expatriate constituency failed to reach the required two-thirds majority.
Although Mr. Samaras and others voted in favor, the constituency's implementation will be delayed until 18 months after the next national polls.
Nevertheless, the core reform stands as a monumental legislative shift, officially empowering more than 5 million diaspora Greeks to seamlessly participate in the nation's democratic process.