Greece History – The Return to Democracy
The clear electoral victory of Karamanlis and the result of the popular referendum called immediately after (December 8, 1974) sanctioned the definitive abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a presidential republic. In June 1975 the new Constitution was approved and the first President of the Republic, Constantine Tsatsos, was elected. Thanks to the moderate politics of Karamanlis, a climate of security and stability prevailed in the country; in 1979 it was decided to join the EEC, operational since 1981, and in 1980 the re-entry into NATO was also approved. The Greek government then began to re-establish good relations with the Balkan countries, the USSR and the Arab world. However, the dispute with Turkey over Cyprus, on the borders in the Aegean Sea, scattered with Greek islands near the…