- Title: GREECE: NEW GOVERNMENT SWORN IN.
- Date: 8th October 1973
- Summary: 1. GV EXT Parliament building. 0.06 2. SV Ministers walking out to meet press. 0.26 3. SV Press arriving. 0.30 4. SV Papadopolous walking out with Greek Vice-President, Archbishop and new Premier. 0.50 5. SV Press 0.54 6. SV Papadopolous and other ministers pose for press. 1.05 7. SV (Right to Left) Angelis, Archbishop Isronymos, Papadapolous and Markezinis pose for cameramen turn and walk into building. 1.31 Initials APSM/2.45 APSM/3.04 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 23rd October 1973 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: ATHENS, GREECE
- Country: Greece
- Reuters ID: LVAENSPDZ0H8UFHOUGSJM97N9MHB
- Story Text: Greece has a civilian Government for the first time in over six years. On Monday (8 October) the new Government, headed by veteran politician Spyros Markezinis, was sworn in by the Primate of Greece, Archbishop Isronymos, in front of the President, Mr. George Papadopoulos.
The new Cabinet replaces the military-backed regime which had been in power since April 1967. Prime Minister Markezinis has chosen as deputy, a former President of the State Council, Mr. Charalambos Mitrelias. Altogether the Cabinet has 38 members; 13 of them were civilian members of the military regime.
Under the new constitutional situation the President retains absolute control over national defence, public order, and foreign affairs. President Papadopoulos -- voted in by a referendum in July -- remains the final authority for the civilian government, at least until a Parliament comes into existence.
Prime Minister Markezinis, in a nation-wide radio and television broadcast after ha'd been sworn in, said there would be fair parliamentary elections and the restoration of normal political conditions as soon as possible. He said he intended to make sure all parties which wished to contest such elections would have access to the State news media; though, he added, they should respect the existing regime of a Presidential Republic.
SYNOPSIS: The first civilian Government in Greece far six years was sworn in on Monday. Since April 1967 the country has been run by a military backed regime, led by George Papadopoulos, who's now become President and made way for the civilian government. A referendum in July voted President Papadopoulos into office; and he then arranged for the civilian government to take over responsibility for running the country.
The President remains in charge of Defence, Public Order and Foreign Affairs.
President Papadopoulos appointed a Prime Minister. He chose the political veteran Spyros Markezinis. Prime Minister Markezinis then selected his Cabinet, which has thirty-eight members, including thirteen who were civilian members of the military regime. His deputy is a former President of the State Council, Mr. Charalambos Mitrelias.
This civilian government remains answerable to the President until Parliament comes into existence.
In a nation-wide broadcast after he'd been sworn in, the new Prime Minister promised fair elections and a return to normal political life as soon as possible.
He urged politicians who'd been opposed to the military government to look to the future and brush aside the past. Prime Minister Markezinis acknowledged there were problems, but said his Government would prepare a programme for tackling them before elections were called. He promised that all parties fighting the elections would have access to the news media; though they should accept the existing regime.
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