LOCAL AND REGIONAL STRUCTURES IN GREECE
Greece is a federal State composed of rural municipalities (kinotites), urban municipalities (dimoi), departments (nomoi) and regions (peripheria).
Local level: more than 900 urban municipalities (dimoi) and 133 rural municipalities (kinotites)
Municipal authorities in urban areas
The municipal council (dimotiko simvoulio) is elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term. 3/5 of the seats are from the majority list and the remaining 2/5 are shared proportionally between the other lists. This deliberative assembly is the decision making body of the municipality.
The municipal committee (dimarchiaki Epitropi) is composed of members elected for two years by the council. It is responsible for establishing the budget and for auditing accounts. The mayor heads the committee.
The mayor (dimarchos) is the leader of the winning list. (S)he is assisted by the municipal committee and is responsible for implementing the municipal council's and the municipal committee's decisions. The mayor attends council meetings but has no vote.
Municipal authorities in rural areas
The municipal council (simvoulio) is composed of members elected for a four-year term by direct universal suffrage. This deliberative assembly, headed by the president of the council, is the decision making body of the municipality.
The president of the council (proedros kinotitas), the majority list leader, heads the administration and the council. (S)he is responsible for implementing the council's decisions and represents the municipality.
Competences
. Culture
. Public transport
. Socio-economic promotion
. Gas and water supply
. School buildings maintenance
Intermediary level: 54 departments (nomoi)
Departmental authorities
The council of the department (nomarchiako simvoulio) is elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year term (under the same conditions as for the municipalities). This deliberative assembly can establish up to six departmental committees.
The departmental committees (nomarchiakes epitropes) are elected from among the council. The department president heads the committees and may be assisted by a vice president.
The department president (nomarchis) is the head of the winning list. (S)he is responsible for implementing the council's and the committees' decisions and represents the department.
Note: There are three enlarged departments (hypernomarchies): Athinon-Pireos, Evrou-Rodopis, Dramas-Kavalas-Xanthis
Competences
. Development of the department
. Local authorities services management
. Urbanism
. Health
. Green areas
. School buildings construction
Regional level: 13 regions (peripheria)
Regional authorities
The regional council is composed of all the department presidents, the secretary general, a representative of each urban municipality and rural municipality in the region, and of representatives of socio-professional interested organisations. It is headed by the secretary general.
The secretary general is appointed by the central government and is assisted by the regional council. (S)he is the head of all the region's services and can be considered the executive body of the regional administration as well as being the representative of the central government in the region.
Competences
. Regional economic and social development
. Vertical coordination of economic policies
