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Athens, 21 July 2023

Meeting of President of Parliament with new governing board of World Hellenic Inter-parliamentary Association

The President of the Hellenic Parliament Constantine Tassoulas focused on the cross-party consensus reached on the issue of extending the right to vote of expatriates, who are registered in the electoral rolls, in his meeting today with the new Governing Board of the World Hellenic Inter-Parliamentary Association (WHIA). The new governing board was elected yesterday during the first day of the 14th General Assembly, which concludes today in the Senate Hall of the Parliament.

“Thanks to your presence as well and thanks to the pressure that you rightfully exerted, a big issue concerning the Greek diaspora is moving forward. Today sees the conclusion of the debate in the Parliament’s competent Committee on Public Administration, Public Order and Justice and the Interior Minister Niki Kerameos called it a historic step that more than 200 MPs have so far agreed to vote for the government’s proposal, so that Greeks who are abroad on election day, whether it’s the European Parliament elections or the national elections, can vote, as long as they qualify to vote when they are in Greece. The agreement was reached while you were here. You held discussions with the parties and I am convinced that the prevailing of common sense has to do with your presence as well. When you go back to your countries please convey the message that our country has provided the solution that Greeks abroad have longed for. Henceforth, while abroad, they will have a say in developments in the motherland”.

The President of the Parliament also praised the role of the WHIA in globally promoting Greece’s national issues, the Cyprus issue, the prevalence of international law, the reunification of the Parthenon marbles, the promotion of Greek language and culture.

The re-elected WHIA President Leonidas Raptakis, thanking the President and the parliamentary services for supporting the work of the Association, stressed that all members feel at home when they are in Greece. He also added that the WHIA members systematically work to be a bridge between the countries where they are elected and Greece, promoting the national issues, praising the Greek people, but also promoting the investment opportunities in our country.

The new members of the WHIA Governing Board are: President: Leonidas Raptakis (US), 1st Vice-President: Effie Triantafilopoulos (Canada), 2nd Vice-President: Steve Georganas (Australia) and members Evangelos Doules (Albania), Marietta Karamanli (France), Nicole Klarides – Ditria (US), Annie Koutrakis (Canada), Stephan Pappas (US), Maria Vamvakinou (Australia).

The Secretary General of the Parliament George Mylonakis and other officials of the Parliament also attended the meeting.