Micah Jonah
February 2, 2026
Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has proposed a review of ministers’ legal immunity and the long standing guarantee of lifetime employment for state sector workers, as part of efforts to restore public trust, strengthen support ahead of the 2027 general election.
The proposals come amid public anger over a corruption scandal involving farmers and state employees who allegedly falsified land ownership records to obtain subsidies. The case, uncovered by European Union prosecutors in 2025, is currently under parliamentary review.
Public confidence has also been shaken by the government’s handling of a deadly train crash in 2023 which killed 57 people, the worst rail disaster in Greece’s history.
The incident triggered widespread protests, with many citizens demanding full political accountability. A trial related to the crash is expected to begin next month.
Under Greece’s constitution, only parliament has the authority to investigate ministers or lift lawmakers’ immunity. In a televised address and a letter to lawmakers, Mitsotakis said the time had come for a bold constitutional revision to strengthen democratic accountability and improve governance.
He also suggested revisiting the policy of lifelong job security for public servants, which has existed for more than a century, arguing that reforms were needed to improve efficiency and address underperformance within the public sector.
Mitsotakis added that constitutional reforms should also reflect modern challenges such as artificial intelligence, affordable housing, climate change, fiscal stability and delays in the judicial system, although he did not outline specific measures.
For the proposed changes to take effect, approval would be required from two successive parliaments, with at least one vote securing a supermajority of 180 lawmakers in the 300 seat legislature.
