An unexpected reform in the maelstrom of the crisis: Greek nationality in the times of the memoranda (2010–2015)

Abstract

The article discusses the path of an important reform of the Greek Citizenship Code, starting from the initial introduction of the Citizenship Law in 2010, the public debate and reactions that followed leading to its partial annulation as unconstitutional in 2012, and finally, the developments until its restoration with a new law in 2016. This initiative introducing radical reforms for the Greek context took place in the midst of the public debt crisis, and thus has not been discussed accordingly. Until then, the issue of Greek nationality represented a non-issue in the political agenda of the country, since the issue of citizenship was considered ‘nationally sensitive’. The paper examines how such a reform is pushed forward during extremely difficult conditions, an unprecedented economic and political crisis, coupled by the largest refugee wave in the recent history of the country, having still an uncertain future/outcome.

Keywords:

• Citizenship
• migration
• nationality
• legal reforms
• crisis

Notes

1. The literal translation of the Greek legislation concerning naturalization would be the Greek Nationality Act, referring to the process of becoming a member of the national ‘community’. However, we chose to use the word Citizenship to be closer to similar Acts in other European countries.

2. Similar to the Constitutional Court existing in other countries.