Debate Town Hall: The Revision of Article 16 of the Constitution
The Debate House is hosting a Debate Town Hall on the topic:
"The Revision of Article 16 of the Constitution — Private or Public Universities? The future of higher education in Greece"
Citizens with differing views take on symbolic parliamentary roles and argue their case in a structured format. Speakers are grouped into four wings based on where they stand on the Status Quo — "In Greece: only public universities" — and the event closes with an electronic vote and awards.
- Date: Saturday, 19 September 2026, 12:00–16:00
- Venue: Athens City Council Chamber
- Organised by: Debate House, under the auspices of the Municipality of Athens
Choose your role — Speaker, Journalist, or Spectator — and apply.
In Greece: only public universities. Where do you stand on this Status Quo?
Where do you stand on the Status Quo?
Speakers pick one of four positions relative to the Status Quo. Nobody can see how the positions are distributed until the speakers are announced.
Programme
- 12:00–12:10 Opening statements
- 12:10–12:20 Debate between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Official Opposition
- 12:20–13:55 Main debate — part one
- 13:55–14:10 Coffee break, statements and short press interviews
- 14:10–15:45 Main debate — part two
- 15:45–15:55 Electronic awards vote
- 15:55–16:00 Results, awards and closing
This event is photographed and video-recorded. By attending you may appear in the recording.
Debate Townhall
Apply to attendAthens City Council Chamber
19 Sep 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
A structured public deliberation where 30 speakers debate a single issue from four position "wings", supported by documented proposals and symbolic parliamentary roles, with audience participation and a final vote, closing with an institutional report.
Anyone with an account can apply for one role per event: Speaker (active debater), Spectator (audience — may submit a question or proposal) or Journalist (accredited media).
Yes — you register, verify your email and complete a private profile before applying. Participation is for adults 18 and over.
Each speaker chooses a position towards the event's Status Quo: For, Partly For, Partly Against, or Against. "For" and "Partly For" form one camp; "Against" and "Partly Against" the other.
Manually, by the organising Presidium after reviewing every application. There is no automatic algorithm and no first-come advantage — it is an editorial selection.
No. Your wing is locked once you submit; organisers may adjust it only before the speakers are published. Choose carefully.
No. Wing counts and percentages stay private until the speakers are officially announced, to keep the debate balanced.
After selection the wings map to Government, Coalition Partner, Official Opposition and Minor Opposition, and each wing elects a leader (such as a symbolic "Prime Minister"). All titles are purely symbolic and used only within the debate.
A written proposal of at least 200 words (with no upper limit), optionally with supporting links and attachments. You may submit it personally or on behalf of an organisation (name and capacity required).
You may be placed on the alternates list with a private priority order and promoted if a speaker drops out. You will be notified either way, and your account and profile remain yours.
Each speaker has two statements of up to three minutes and up to three questions of twenty seconds each, with the floor granted by the Presidium.