Greece

Hellenic Republic

Civil lawUnitary parliamentary republicReviewed· 2026-08-02

Capital: Athens
Population: 10,400,000
Languages: Greek
Currency: EUR

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Greece · Rights

Rights in Greece

What the atlas records on rights in Greece, checked against the primary sources cited below.

Rights

The 1975 Constitution with diffuse review by every court

Reviewed· 2026-08-02

Greece is a parliamentary republic under the 1975 Constitution. Unusually in Europe, there is no single constitutional court: every judge may refuse to apply an unconstitutional statute, with a Special Highest Court resolving disagreement between the supreme courts.

Key rules

Any court, at any level, may disapply a statute it finds contrary to the Constitution.
The Special Highest Court settles conflicts between the Council of State, Cassation and the Court of Audit.
Revision of the Constitution requires votes by two successive parliaments.

Governing law

Constitution of Greece (1975, as revised)

In practice

Because review is diffuse, a constitutional argument belongs in the ordinary pleadings from the outset rather than in a separate application.

Sources

Rights

Constitutional rights, the ECHR in domestic law and an independent Ombudsman

Reviewed· 2026-08-02

The Constitution protects individual and social rights, and ratified human-rights treaties including the European Convention have superior force to ordinary statute. The Greek Ombudsman is a constitutionally recognised independent authority.

Key rules

Ratified international conventions prevail over conflicting domestic statutes.
Human dignity and the free development of personality are primary constitutional values.
Independent authorities, including the Ombudsman and the data protection authority, have constitutional status.

Governing law

Constitution of Greece, arts. 2 and 4–25 (1975)
European Convention on Human Rights

In practice

Convention arguments are routinely pleaded directly before Greek courts because treaties outrank ordinary legislation.

Sources

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