A prominent legal scholar has taken formal action against the recognition of the former Greek royal family’s surname and citizenship. Panos Lazaratos, a professor at the University of Athens Law School, has filed an appeal with Greece’s Council of State, aiming to revoke both the “De Grece” surname and the Greek nationality granted to members of the deposed royal family.
Constitutional and Legal Arguments
According to reports, Professor Lazaratos contends that the decision to grant the former royals the surname and Greek citizenship is unconstitutional, specifically violating Article 4 of the Greek Constitution. He argues that this act creates an indirect form of discrimination, thereby undermining the principle of equality among Greek citizens and affecting his personal rights as a Greek national.
In his legal petition, Lazaratos explicitly states that his objective is to ensure that neither the former king nor his descendants ever have the opportunity to regain political power in Greece.
Electoral and Democratic Implications
One of the central arguments in the appeal is that individuals listed in the Athens municipal registry and electoral rolls have unlawfully acquired Greek nationality due to the improper recognition of their surname. As a result, Lazaratos claims, they have the right to vote in national and local elections, which could influence electoral outcomes. He argues that this compromises the principle of popular sovereignty, as the right to vote should be reserved for individuals who have lawfully acquired Greek citizenship.
Protection of Republican Values
The appeal further references Article 4, Paragraph 7 of the Greek Constitution, which was designed to prevent the persistence of aristocratic privileges and the resurgence of monarchical influence. The professor asserts that this constitutional provision exists to ensure that individuals with noble titles or historical claims to power cannot leverage such status in ways that might reopen political debates about Greece’s form of government.
By reinforcing democratic principles, the provision aims to permanently exclude the former king and his descendants from any attempt to reclaim authority, thereby preserving the stability of the Greek Republic and ensuring social cohesion.
The Ban on Titles and Monarchical Associations
Lazaratos argues that ever since the abolition of the monarchy in Greece, neither the former king nor his heirs should be allowed to use a surname that signifies their former status. He specifically challenges the legitimacy of the “De Grece” surname, emphasizing that it carries historical and political connotations incompatible with Greece’s republican governance.
The legal scholar concludes that the Greek Constitution seeks to prevent any individual from holding a name that symbolizes past social or political privilege. According to him, such a practice endangers social equality, national unity, and even the very existence of Greece’s democratic system.
This legal challenge raises broader questions about Greece’s handling of its royal past and the extent to which historical figures should be integrated into modern democratic society. As the case moves forward, it is likely to spark renewed debate about the role and legacy of the former Greek royal family.
