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Mitsotakis urges MPs to approve revision of Article 16 in constitution

Featured Mitsotakis urges MPs to approve revision of Article 16 in constitution

Revising Article 16 of the constitution to allow private non-profit universities in Greece is a central proposal for main opposition New Democracy (ND), the party's president Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in parliament on Tuesday, during a debate on revising the constitution. He also clarified that the precise content of any amendments approved now will be decided by the next parliament.

"A debate begins in parliament today on revising the constitution...the current composition of parliament decides the articles of the constitution that must change and the next parliament decides their precise content. This is, in any case, the reason why elections intervene between the two stages of the revision," Mitsotakis said.

His party's aim, he added, was for the constitution to be in step with the country's contemporary needs.

"Our central proposal is the revision of Article 16 for universities that has, unfortunately, held our country back for 44 years. The state must guarantee good quality public higher education, providing opportunities for  everyone. But it must also allow what exists throughout the [rest of the] world: the operation of private, non-profit institutions," ND's president said.

"It is time for our children to stop leaving to study abroad. To have more opportunities to study in Greece so their families are not burdened with very heavy costs," Mitsotakis said, noting that Greece could become a centre for education in the Mediterranean, earning significant revenue from foreign students.

He called on MPs to consent to revising article 16 or risk missing the opportunity for another decade.