Long-form name: Hellenic Republic

Type: presidential parliamentary government; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Capital: Athens

Administrative divisions: 51 departments (nomoi, singular--nomos); Aitolia kai Akarnania, Akhaia, Argolis, Arkadhia, Arta, Attiki, Dhodhekanisos, Drama, Evritania, Evros, Evvoia, Florina, Fokis, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ilia, Imathia, Ioannina, Iraklion, Kardhitsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkira, Khalkidhiki, Khania, Khios, Kikladhes, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lesvos, Levkas, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethimni, Rodhopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakinthos

Independence: 1827 (from the Ottoman Empire); declared a kingdom by the London Protocol of 3 February 1830

Constitution: 11 June 1975

National holiday: Independence Day (proclamation of the war of independence), 25 March (1821)

Branches: executive--consisting of a president, elected by the Vouli (parliament), a prime minister, and a Cabinet; unicameral legislature--consisting of the 300-member Vouli; and an independent judiciary

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--President Christos SARTZETAKIS (since 30 March 1985); @m5Head of Government--Prime Minister Tzannis TZANNETAKIS (since 30 June 1989)

Suffrage: universal age 18 and over

Elections: every four years; last parliamentary election held 18 June 1989

Political parties and leaders: conservative-Communist coalition--New Democracy (ND), Constantine Mitsotakis; Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), Andreas Papandreou; Democratic Renewal (DR), Constantine Stefanopoulos; Communist Party-Exterior (KKE-Ext), Harilaos Florakis; Greek Left Party (EAR), Leonidas Kyrkos

Voting strength: 18 June 1989 parliamentary election--New Democracy 44.37% (144 seats); Panhellenic Socialist Movement, 39.1% (125 seats); Left Alliance 13.01% (26 seats) Democratic Renewal 1% (1 seat)

Communists: an estimated 60,000 members and sympathizers

Member of: CCC, EC, EIB (associate), EMA, FAO, GATT, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOOC, ITU, IWC--International Wheat Council, NATO, OECD, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WSG, WTO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador George D. PAPOULIAS; Chancery at 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone (202) 667-3168; there are Greek Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, and Consulates in Boston and New Orleans; US--Ambassador Robert V. KEELEY; Embassy at 91 Vasilissis Sophias Boulevard, 10160 Athens (mailing address is APO New York 09253); telephone �30� (1) 721-2951 or 721-8401; there is a US Consulate General in Thessaloniki

Flag: nine equal horizontal stripes of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Christianity, the established religion of the country

NOTE: The information regarding Greece on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Greece Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Greece Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.