Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios outlined voting options and proposed improvements to citizenship procedures, civil registration and access to digital public services during a press conference in Toronto.
Easier participation in Greece’s national elections and fewer bureaucratic obstacles for Greeks living abroad were the focus of a Toronto press conference held by Interior Minister Theodoros Livanios.
Speaking to Greek Canadian media during his visit for the Delphi Economic Forum Toronto, the minister discussed overseas voting, diaspora representation and plans to improve access to Greek public services.
A central issue was postal voting in national elections, allowing overseas voters to participate without travelling to a polling station. According to Greece’s Foreign Ministry, voters registering abroad can choose to vote in person, by post, or by post if no polling station is established in their preferred city.
Addressing parliamentary representation, Livanios said participation by overseas voters would be a significant factor in future changes. He explained that the proposal for a separate overseas constituency had not secured the parliamentary majority required for immediate implementation. Further geographical allocation of diaspora representation remains a matter for future discussion.
The minister also acknowledged delays affecting citizenship applications and civil registration, with consular services facing increased demand, particularly from second-generation Greeks seeking to establish their citizenship and resolve outstanding family records.
Measures under consideration include additional staffing, in cooperation with the Foreign Ministry, and electronic submission of documents for preliminary review by Greece’s Special Civil Registry. This would allow applicants to identify missing information or necessary corrections before completing the process, reducing repeated visits.
Livanios also discussed giving consular authorities greater scope to handle simpler civil registration cases, helping services devote more attention to complex applications.
Another proposed change concerns access to gov.gr through remote identity verification using a Greek passport, including for citizens who do not have a Greek tax identification number or Taxisnet credentials.
If implemented, the measure could make it easier to obtain certificates online and complete other administrative transactions. No launch date was announced, although the minister expressed the hope that preparations could be completed over the coming months.
The discussion also covered the possibility of electronically verifying civil registration information between Greece and Canada. Such an arrangement would require cooperation between the relevant authorities and is not currently an available service.
Livanios further acknowledged the need to improve communication with Greeks abroad, highlighting the contribution of diaspora media. For overseas communities, the practical test will be whether the proposed changes deliver faster services, fewer administrative hurdles and easier access to the Greek state.
Source: Greek Press, Canada
