Abolition of Monarchy and 50-Year-Old Republic Constitution in Greece
Former Royal Descendants Agree to Accept Republic
Criticism Over Choosing Surnames Including 'Greece'
Descendants of the former Greek royal family officially recognized the republican system and applied for the restoration of their nationality. This marks 50 years since the monarchy was abolished in Greece. On the 21st (local time), the Associated Press reported, "The Greek government announced that the royal family signed a declaration the day before acknowledging the republican system and adopting a new surname, ‘de Grece’." This means "of Greece" or "from Greece" in French.
The Greek monarchy lost power amid political turmoil following a military coup in 1967 and was officially abolished through a national referendum in December 1974. At that time, the people overwhelmingly supported the republican constitution. Since then, the royal family lived in exile for decades in countries such as Italy and the United Kingdom, returning to Greece as private citizens in 2013.
The royal family also had conflicts with the republican government. In 1994, they engaged in legal disputes over former royal properties that had been nationalized. During this process, the royal family insisted they would not renounce their rights to the throne, resulting in the loss of their nationality. The government then required them to recognize the republican system and adopt the surname ‘Glucksburg’ to regain nationality. However, the family rejected the surname ‘Glucksburg,’ arguing that it evoked German ancestry and appeared to lack Greek legitimacy.
However, this time they agreed to accept the French-style surname ‘de Grece’ because it includes "Greece." Some in the political sphere criticized allowing them to choose their surname at all. The Socialist Party criticized, “They claim to renounce titles and future claims to the throne but chose the family name ‘Greece,’ causing confusion.” The left-wing party, the Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza), also pointed out, “Greek law does not recognize titles and nobility, so this is problematic.”
Constantine II, the last monarch of Greece, passed away last year at the age of 82. It is reported that the ten people applying for nationality restoration this time include Constantine II’s five children and five grandchildren with Queen Anne-Marie.
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