The Greek government is considering a parliament with 250 MPs and the establishment of a Senate

The Greek government is launching a public debate before the European elections the suggestions for a smaller parliament with 250 MPs, strengthening the role of the President of the Republic and the establishment of a Senate.

Antonis Samaras and Evangelos Venizelos have already referred to the issue, while, according to an article in the "Kathimerini" newspaper, this proposal is part of the constitutional review debate which will open in the coming period.

This is not the first time that a question of reducing the number of parliamentarians is being set as in the Economist conference three years ago Antonis Samaras had spoken about the need to cut MPs from 300 to 200, while Dimitris Avramopoulos was in favor of the smaller number from 1999.

The issue was discussed at the meeting of Samarass and Venizelos during which they was decided to remove the list for MEPs and have them elected by a cross, according to the newspaper. The article says that the Prime Minister was in favor of a reduction of 50 seats in the current parliament, with a parallel establishment of an elective Senate of 50 members.

Although Venizelos agrees in principle with the need to reduce the number of MPs, he allegedly objected to the elected Senate. In contrast, he defended the need to reduce the potential for early elections before the completion of the four-year term of the government, arguing that even if the government falls, it should be able to form of a new government without elections, a proposal for which Samaras expressed reservations.
 
Finally, the Interior Ministry is seeking ways to overcome the obstacle of the majority of three-fifths of the parliament in order to pass the election of MPs with a preference cross.