The Restoration Of Democracy
The Restoration of Democracy is a holiday in Greece that’s observed annually on the 24th of July and commemorates the day democracy was restored to the country following seven years of military dictatorship. A failed junta-instigated military coup in Cyprus gave Turkey an excuse to invade the island on the 20th of July, and they occupied approximately a third of it.
Greece (Observance)The dictators in Athens then decided to pass the government into the hands of politicians and step away from it. These politicians decided to call on Constantinos Karamanlis to become the new Prime Minister of the Greek Republic.
The History Of The Restoration Of Democracy In Greece
When Karamanlis returned to Greece after a period of self-imposed exile on July 24, 1974, many Greeks welcomed him with open arms. He was sworn in by the Archbishop of Athens at 4:00 am that morning. Eight hours later, a portion of the new government was sworn in, and by the 26th of July, the rest of the cabinet was sworn in.
Immediate actions were then taken to restore democracy to the country. This included the release of all political prisoners, the closing of political prisoner camps, the return of Greek nationality to those who were stripped of their citizenship, the adoption of a new constitution, and the legalization of leftist parties such as the Greek Communist Party.
Observing The Restoration Of Democracy In Greece
Because this is not a public holiday in Greece, businesses and banks operate under normal operating hours. It’s also not a day off for the general population. It’s a day that’s celebrated with mainly official events such as political speeches and exhibitions. The hashtag #RestorationOfDemocracy can be used on social media to spread the word about this holiday.
Greece (Observance)
