The 36th anniversary of the restoration of democracy in Greece, after the collapse of the 7-year military dictatorship, was solemnly celebrated at the Presidential Mansion on Saturday (July 24).

Addressing the event, President of the Hellenic Republic Karolos Papoulias said that "the violent outbreak of the financial crisis closed a historical circle of Greece’s democracy, the one that started in 1974." Commenting on the country’s financial predicament, Papoulias stated that "the blame for this situation lies within the country’s political class" and called on "the politicians to make democracy work."

In his message for the occasion, Prime Minister George Papandreou stressed that "our tribute to those who did not succumb to dictatorship is our struggle for the restoration of our autonomy, social and economic justice and the creation of a more substantial democracy."

Konstantinos Karamanlis Archive: The Restoration of Democracy, 1974-77

BBC: Greek Military Rule Gives In to Democracy