Greek History Community

What is the difference between the Greek president and prime minister?

1 - 4 of 4 Posts
G

greggd12

Active member
I'm not super well versed in politics, so I don't know much about the differences between a Prime Minister and a president. How did Greece come to have both? I'm much more used to the American political system where we only have a president. Do all countries with a premature minister also have a president? I appreciate your comments and explanations! Thanks so much everyone.
 
I'm by no means a political expert but I do live in a country with a similar political system. In Australia, we have a "head of state" who is called the Governor General (equivalent to Greece's President) and our Prime Minister is basically a leader of one of the political parties. The GG tends to be more politically independent and in Australia (just like the President in Greece) they are nominated by the Prime MInister and agreed to by a 2/3 vote in parliament - they are not voted in by the people. The people vote in the Prime Minister and consequently they have much more power to make day to day decisions about the country. The GG in Australia and the President in Greece have much more of a ceremonial role. The reason why Australia does not yet have a President is because we are still a "British colony" therefore the Governor General is the Queen's representative in Australia. Greece was lucky to get rid of its Monarchy system a long time ago so their head of state is the President.

If you are comparing to America, in simple terms, the Prime Minister is equivalent to the President in that they are voted in by the public and they have the power to make decisions for the country.

I hope I haven't confused you even more!
 
The president, is head of state and the prime minister is head of government.
The president is elected for a five-year term by the Hellenic Parliament in a special session at least a month before the incumbent's term expires. The president is elected by the parliament, it can take up to 5 rounds in order to get sufficient majority .
 
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Why does the Battle of Thermopylae still capture so much attention?

The Battle of Thermopylae is one of those moments in Greek history that still seems to capture people's attention thousands of years later. The story of Leonidas and the small Greek force standing against the much larger Persian army has become a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and resistance against overwhelming odds.

Of course, the real history is more complicated than the legend, and Thermopylae was only one part of the larger Greco-Persian Wars. Still, there is something powerful about the idea of people choosing to hold their ground even when they know the outcome may not be in their favor.

I also think modern books, movies, and popular culture have helped keep the story alive, sometimes blending history with mythology. Why do you think the Battle of Thermopylae still fascinates people so much? Is it the history itself, the symbolism, or the legend that grew around it?

How Democratic Was Athenian Democracy?

I’ve been studying the democracy of Athens lately, and I find it fascinating that such an influential system didn’t actually last very long in its original form. It’s often described as the birthplace of democracy, and yet when you look closely, it seems both groundbreaking and limited at the same time.

On the one hand, the idea of citizens participating directly in decision-making was radical. On the other hand, citizenship excluded women, enslaved people, and foreigners, which dramatically narrowed who had a voice. It makes me wonder how “democratic” it really was by its own standards, let alone ours.

I’m also curious how stable it truly felt at the time, given the political upheavals and eventual decline.

For those who’ve studied this period more deeply, how do you interpret Athenian democracy? Do you see it as a bold experiment that laid the groundwork for modern systems, or as something far more fragile and constrained?

Which period of Greek history interests you the most?

Which period of Greek history interests you the most? There are so many fascinating eras that it can be difficult to choose just one.

Ancient Greece usually gets the most attention, especially Classical Athens, Sparta, the Persian Wars, and Alexander the Great. But I also find the Byzantine period fascinating because of its enormous influence on Greek religion, culture, art, and identity. Then there are the centuries of Ottoman rule, the Greek War of Independence, the Asia Minor Catastrophe, and Greece’s experiences during the World Wars and Civil War.

I’m curious which period everyone here finds themselves reading about most often. Is there a particular era, historical figure, battle, city, or event that drew you into Greek history?

I’d also love to hear about periods you think deserve more attention. Which part of Greek history would you recommend someone explore if they wanted to go beyond the usual ancient Greece topics?

Transition from myth to recorded history in Greece?

I’ve been thinking about the transition from myth to recorded history in Greece, and where that shift really begins.

So much of what we associate with early Greek history comes to us through myth, stories of gods, heroes, and epic events that clearly weren’t meant as factual records, yet still carry cultural and historical weight. At some point, though, we start seeing attempts to document events, places, and people in a more deliberate way.

I’m curious how others understand this transition. Do you see myth and history as clearly separate phases, or more as overlapping ways of explaining the world? Figures like Homer, Hesiod, and later historians seem to sit somewhere in between storytelling and record-keeping.

What do you think prompted the move toward written history? Was it political organization, trade, literacy, or something else entirely? And how much of myth do you think still shaped the way early historians understood and recorded their past?

Greek life under Roman rule?

I’ve been reading more about Greek history lately, especially periods that don’t get as much everyday attention, and I keep coming back to Greek life under Roman Empire rule.

I know the broad timeline, Greece absorbed into the Roman world, cities continuing to function, Greek culture influencing Rome as much as the other way around — but I’m really curious about the lived experience. What did daily life actually feel like for ordinary Greeks during this period? How much continuity was there with earlier Hellenistic life, and where did Roman administration, law, or customs really change things?

I love history most when I can picture it: streets, homes, education, food, language, religion. Were people aware they were living in a “Roman” era, or did it feel like Greek life with a new layer on top?

If anyone has thoughts, favorite books, articles, documentaries, or even museum resources, I’d love recommendations.
Share and discuss Greek history!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top