The constitutional issue in the inter-war period
Despite the change in the Constitution and the official proclamation of the Second Republic
in March 1924, the issue of a new Constitution for the country had been pending
for two years now. The Constitution that was finally adopted in 1927, while not distinguished
by any particular innovations, was clearly more complete than any previous one
adopted by the Greek state. Some of its elements
reflected western European progressive ideas, but on the whole it was
conservative. However, given the refusal of the anti-Venizelist bloc
(Ioannis Metaxas excluded) to accept the results of the 1924 plebiscite
concerning the Constitution, the non-validation of the foundation stone of the state
is relatively easy to explain.
After the four-year governorship of Eleftherios Venizelos, through a series of
well planned approaches the monarchy was restored to the scene (3 November
1935). It was evident that a Republic supported by arms and the aspirations
of military groups and political figures was unreliable
in its political application. It must be noted that on the part
of political leaders, only Alexandros Papanastasiou had been a fervent supporter of the Republic
during the whole inter-war period. The attitude of the overwhelming majority
of the remaining leaders was characterized by moodiness and determined
by their vested interests in the catalogue of events. In this light, the revival of the Constitutional issue
yet again was basically one more attempt by the opposing blocs, Venizelists and anti-Venizelists,
to seize and maintain power, often without the people's consent.
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