The problem of proportional representation arises from low participation Greeks Abroad on the platform to participate in national elections from their place of residence.

In particular, less than 3,000 Greeks living abroad have registered to participate so far, who – depending on the results of the vote – will elect 2-4 state parliamentarians.

Minister of Internal Affairs Makis Voridis states that perhaps we should ask ourselves if it is fair that so many deputies are elected by so few people. He adds that provision could be made to link the number of deputies elected by Greeks abroad to the number of voters, whichever is the case in unicameral parliaments. However, he emphasizes that the specific issue should be discussed with other parties, since a majority of 200 deputies is required to change the relevant norm.

However Minister of the Interior talking to “K” explains that he believes there is no constitutionality issue, given that all state MPs represent the country, not specific voters.

Mr Voridis has proposed revisiting the provision for electing 2-4 MPs per state – only 3,000 have registered to vote in the election.

Mr Voridis stresses that the terms and conditions included in the legislation for voting Greeks abroad “in order for the left to agree, made the law non-functional.”

However, PASOK, the Movement for Change, said in a statement that it was not going to agree to any changes that would reduce “the representation of diaspora Greeks in the next parliament.”

He attributes the failure of the micro-party compromises reached by New Democracy to “conditions imposed by SYRIZA on other opposition parties that effectively abolished the massive participation of Greeks abroad in elections.”

Facilitating the ability to vote at the place of residence applies (as the relevant law is structured) to persons who left in search of work during the years of the economic crisis.

Ministry sources attributed the low turnout at the local voting site to the fact that the election date has not been announced, so many have not decided whether they can come to Greece to vote.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is planning a new information campaign in the near future. In any case, however, a large increase in the number of declarations is not expected.