In accordance with article 30 par. 1 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic regulates the functions of the institutions of the Republic. However, his real powers are limited in comparison with those of the Prime Minister and the Ministers.

The powers of the President of the Republic may be characterized as symbolic, regulatory, legislative, administrative and judicial, they are specific, restricted to those set out in the Constitution and are governed:
  • by the interpretative rule of article 50 according to which, the President of the Republic shall have only those powers which are explicitly conferred upon him by the Constitution and by such laws as are in accordance with it

  • by the clause of article 35 par. 1 according to which, no act of the President of the Republic is valid or may be executed unless it has been countersigned by the competent Minister, apart from the exceptions which are set out in detail in par. 2 of the same article.

Specifically the President of the Republic:

(article 36 par. 1)
shall represent the State internationally, declare war, conclude treaties of peace, alliance, economic cooperation and participation in international organizations or unions and he shall announce them to Parliament, whenever the interest and security of the State so permit. This power is merely symbolic and is in fact exercised by the government
(article 37 par. 1)
shall appoint the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Deputy Ministers
(article 38 par. 1)
shall relieve the government of its duties if the latter resigns or loses the confidence of Parliament
(article 37 par. 2, 3 and 4)
shall give an exploratory mandate in order to find out if the formation of a government enjoying the confidence of Parliament is possible
(article 40 par. 1)
shall convoke Parliament in ordinary session once a year and in extraordinary session whenever he judges it appropriate

(article 40 par. 1)
shall announce the commencement and termination of each parliamentary term in person or through the Prime Minister
(article 40 par. 2, 3)
shall suspend a parliamentary session, this being a power which the President can exercise at his discretion only once every parliamentary session
(article 32 par. 4, article 37 par. 3, article 41)
shall dissolve Parliament and call for elections in the following cases laid down by the Constitution:

(article 37 par. 3)
  • if the exploratory mandates fail and the impossibility of forming a government enjoying the confidence of Parliament is confirmed
(article 41 par. 1)
  • if two governments have been defeated in Parliament and its composition cannot ensure stability of government
(article 41 par. 2)
  • in order to deal with a matter of exceptional national importance, following a proposal by a government which has received a vote of confidence in Parliament
(article 44 par. 2)
shall call for a referendum on matters of crucial national importance following a resolution passed by an absolute majority of the total number of Members of Parliament upon proposal of the Cabinet
(article 44 par. 2)
shall proclaim by decree a referendum on a Bill passed by Parliament regarding a serious social issue. This shall be countersigned by the Speaker, provided the referendum has been proposed by 120 MPs and been passed by 180 MPs
(article 44 par. 3)
shall, in exceptional circumstances, issue an address to the People, with the consent of the Prime Minister. Such addresses shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister and published in the Government Gazette
(article 42 par. 1)
shall promulgate the laws passed by Parliament within one month of the vote. With the signing of the law the President attests both to the legitimacy of the law as well as to the observance of the procedures laid down

(article 42 par. 1)
shall publish the laws passed by Parliament. Such publication is the act of the President of the Republic by which he orders the publication of the law in the Government Gazette
(article 42 par. 1 and 2)
has the right of veto on a Bill passed by Parliament. This right of veto may be exercised within one month of the passing of the Bill and must be accompanied by a statement of the reasons for the President's disagreement with the Bill
(article 43)
shall issue regulatory decrees. The Constitution foresees the issue of these decrees by the President of the Republic in the following cases:
(article 43 par. 1)
  • the President shall issue decrees which lay down detailed rules required for the execution of laws. The Constitution charges the President of the Republic with the execution of laws, in collaboration with the competent Minister who proposes and countersigns them. The authorization of the common legislator is not necessary in order to exercise this power
(article 43 par. 2)
  • the President shall issue regulatory decrees with specific authorization by law and following the proposal of the competent Minister
(article 43 par. 4)
  • the President shall issue regulatory decrees for the regulation of matters specified in framework laws, at all times in collaboration with the competent Minister
(article 44)
shall issue acts with a legislative content. Such acts constitute statutory regulation and are issued following the proposal of the Cabinet:

(article 44 par. 1)
  • in extraordinary circumstances of urgent and unforeseeable need
(article 48 par. 5)
  • in case of war, mobilization due to external dangers or direct threat to national security, the measures in article 48 are put into effect in order to deal with emergencies or to restore the functioning of the constitutional institutions as quickly as possible
(article 48 par. 2)
shall proclaim the country to be in a state of siege, in the event of war, mobilization or direct threat to national security, if Parliament is absent or it is deemed impossible for it to convene in time, following the proposal of the Cabinet

(article 35 par. 2e)
shall appoint the staff of the Presidency of the Republic
(article 46 par. 2)
shall confer the prescribed decorations on nationals and foreigners in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws

(article 45)
is the symbolic head of the Armed Forces and confers ranks on those serving within, as specified by law

(article 36 par. 1)
as the representative of the State internationally, he supplies Letters of Credentials to members of Greek diplomatic delegations to foreign countries and receives the credentials from members of foreign diplomatic delegations

(article 47 par. 1)
shall intervene in the judicial procedure by granting pardons. The President may grant pardons, commute or reduce sentences imposed by the courts and also remove all consequences before the law of sentences imposed and served. This power is exercised following the proposal of the Minister of Justice and after consulting with a Council composed mainly of judges (who are not necessarily in agreement but whose opinion must be obtained)
(article 47 par. 2)
shall grant a pardon to a Minister convicted in accordance with article 86 of the Constitution. This right may be exercised only with the consent of Parliament