Capital
and largest city Athens Demonym Greek | Official language
and national language Greek Legislature Hellenic Parliament | |
 | ||
Religion Eastern Orthodoxy Greek Orthodoxy (prevailing faith) Government Unitary parliamentary
constitutional republic | ||
Third Hellenic Republic (Greek: Γ΄ Ελληνική Δημοκρατία) is the period in modern Greek history that stretches from 1974, with the fall of Greek military junta and the final abolition of the Greek monarchy, to the present day.
Contents
It is considered the third period of republican rule in Greece, following the First Republic during the Greek War of Independence (1821–32) and the Second Republic during the temporary abolition of the monarchy in 1924–35. The term "Metapolitefsi" (Μεταπολίτευση) is commonly used for this period, but this term concerns more often with the first years immediately after the fall of the military junta. While the First and Second Hellenic Republics aren't in common use except in a historiographic context, the term Third Hellenic Republic is used frequently.
Features of the Third Hellenic Republic are the development of social freedoms, the human growth, the European orientation of Greece and the political dominance of the parties ND and PASOK. On the contrary this period includes high corruption, deterioration of some economic indexes such as the public debt and nepotism mostly in political scene and the state seats.
Events
This period is marked by great changes. In 1981 Greece joined in EU. Simultaneously the centre-left party PASOK won the election and changed the Greek political scenery. During 1990 the living standard of Greeks was improved importantly, nevertheless the Olympic Games of 2004 was the climax. On 1 January 2001, Greece adopted the Euro that was introduced in the country on 1 January 2002. At the last months of 2009, the Greek debt crisis broke out, an event that brought about great changes both social and political level.
Presidents of the Third Hellenic Republic
1974–1989
This period began with the centrists and centre-right being dominant, though the former lost support in the late 1970s with the rise of PASOK. Also the Communist Party of Greece was allowed to take part in elections for first time after the end of the Greek Civil War. The table below shows the results of elections during this period.
1990–2007
This period began with the fall of communist regimes in eastern Europe. It is characterized by the reinforcement of bipartisanship with the two main parties (New Democracy and PASOK) regularly polling over 80% of the vote between them, even reaching 86%.
2009–2015
This period corresponds to Greek debt crisis, that changed dramatically the political stage. Early in the period, PASOK were able to capitalise on a loss of support for ND. However, by the early 2010s, PASOK were also attracting blame for their handling of the crisis, and the radical party SYRIZA became the largest party on the left. The position of the far-right was also strengthened in this period.