Greek Supreme Court: Former royal family “De Gris” legally granted citizenship

Photo: NDP photo.gr

Supreme Council of State of Greece (ΣτΕ) (Supreme Court) recognized the ineligible proviso Greek citizenship and past names “Ντε Γκρες” (de Grès) to ten members of the erstwhile royal family.

The determination was made successful a closed meeting, and the tribunal rejected the instrumentality professor’s assertion ΕΚΠΑ (National University of Athens) Panagiotis Lazaratoswho challenged the legality of the procedure.

What did the tribunal decide?

Photo: NDP photo.gr

According to the decision:

• surname “Ντε Γκρες”(De Gris) recovered admissible;
• the process for granting citizenship is recognized legal;
• contested decisions Ministry of Internal Affairs bash not violate the Constitution.

After the authoritative work of the decision, household members person all rights of Greek citizensincluding:

• right vote;
• right to beryllium elected;
• access to each authorities institutions.

How did this go possible

The ground was the instrumentality 2215/1994which provides for the restoration of civilian status subject to a fig of conditions:

• confession results of the 1974 referendum;
• renunciation of immoderate claims to monarchical privileges;
• choosing a surname and registering with register of citizens.

All these conditions, arsenic noted, were formally fulfilled by household members.

Who received citizenship

The determination concerns:

• children of the erstwhile king Constantine II;
• as well arsenic their descendants, including household Pavlos De Gris.

Previously they had mostly Danish passportshave present received afloat status arsenic citizens of Greece.

Legal dispute

The plaintiff claimed that the surname “Ντε Γκρες”(De Gris) can:

• create a feeling social superiority;
• contradict the rule equality of citizens;
• store elements indirectly noble titles.

However, the tribunal concluded that the surname does not violate the Constitution and does not airs a menace to the antiauthoritarian system.

Political aspect

Legally, the situation is present highly clear:

• family members – ordinary citizens;
• they person the close to enactment successful politics;
• in theory they tin adjacent create a governmental party.

At the aforesaid time, household representatives themselves antecedently stated that they bash not assertion a governmental role.

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