Members of Greece’s former royal household have utilized for Greek citizenship and formally acknowledged the nation’s republican system of presidency, in a landmark transfer 50 years after the monarchy was abolished, officers have confirmed.
The late king Constantine II and his members of the family have been stripped of Greek citizenship in 1994 in a dispute with the federal government over previously royal property and claims that he refused to resign any proper to the Greek throne for his descendants.
Inside ministry official Athanasios Balerpas stated kinfolk of the late king, who died final yr on the age of 82, signed a declaration on Thursday acknowledging the republican authorities and adopting a brand new surname, “De Grece” – French for “of Greece”.
However their selection to use utilizing the household identify “De Grece” – which suggests “of Greece” in French – has aggravated leftwing politicians, with one claiming it creates “confusion”.
“Once they say that they’re giving up their titles and any future claims [to the throne], by choosing this household identify they create confusion,” the Socialist celebration stated.
For the leftwing Syriza celebration, “the selection of household identify is problematic … as a result of the Greek authorized order doesn’t recognise titles and nobilities”.
Officers haven’t formally named the candidates. However Greek information media extensively reported that 10 members of the family have sought citizenship, together with all 5 kids of Constantine II and former Queen Anne-Marie – Alexia, Pavlos, Nikolaos, Theodora and Philippos – in addition to 5 of the late king’s grandchildren.
“A traditionally pending matter is being resolved,” inside ministry official Balerpas informed state-run radio. “Let’s look to the longer term now. I feel it’s second as a result of it closes an account from the previous and we will now look ahead as a individuals.”
The Greek monarchy was abolished by referendum in December 1974, when voters overwhelmingly backed a republican structure, months after the autumn of a seven-year navy dictatorship.
Members of the royal household lived in exile for many years earlier than Constantine returned as a personal citizen in his seventies. The 1994 stripping of their Greek citizenship occurred throughout a authorized battle over the previous royal property, which is now state-owned.
They’d beforehand refused to undertake a surname, distancing themselves from the identify Glucksburg, assigned in a 1994 legislation, which they noticed as linking them too intently to their German ancestry and making them appear much less legitimately Greek.
The choice on citizenship should now be revealed within the official authorities gazette earlier than they will apply for state identification playing cards and Greek passports.
Legislators from centre-left and leftwing opposition events stated the previous royal members of the family shouldn’t have been permitted to decide on their very own surname – with some arguing it gave the impression of a title slightly than an ordinary surname – however didn’t oppose their proper to citizenship.
With Related Press and Agence France-Presse
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