Greek government in exile in Cairo became more pronounced, in early 1944 EAM decided to set up a fully-fledged parallel government, the Political Committee of National Liberation (PEEA), to administer the liberated areas—a "Free Greece" comprising about half of the country's area and 2.5 million people—and to apply pressure on the government in exile for its reformation into a national unity government with the participation of EAM ministers.[3][4][5]
Elections for the National Council
To legitimize this move, in late April EAM held elections across Greece.[5][6] The PEEA decree on holding the elections foresaw two ways of voting, one with the direct election of the national councillors, and one indirectly via electors representing localities as well as professional or other groupings. It was left to the various areas to decide which method they would implement.[7]
These were the first Greek elections in which women were allowed to vote, and where the voting age limit was lowered to 18.
Metaxas Regime) democratic government.[7][9] The elected councillors represented a broad cross-section of Greek society: 2 bishops and 2 priests, 5 university professors, 8 generals and 6 lower-ranking officers, 20 civil servants, 5 industrialists, 15 doctors of medicine, 25 lawyers, 22 labourers, 23 farmers, 10 newspapermen, 10 scientists, 9 high school teachers, etc.[5][10] Among them, for the first time in Greek history, were five women.[9]
Work of the Council and dissolution
The primary school building of Koryschades, where the National Council sessions took place
The Council convened for the first time on 14 May 1944 in the village of
Metropolitan of Kozani, Joachim, the national councillors took their oath of office:[7]
I swear that I will faithfully carry out my duties, as a member of the National Council, guided by the interest of the Fatherland and of the Greek people. That I will fight with self-denial for the liberation of the country from the conquerors' yoke, that I will defend everywhere and always the people's liberties and will be an assistant and guide of the people in its struggle for its liberty and its sovereign rights."
The Council sat in its first and only session from 14 to 27 May 1944.
Lebanon conference, EAM was obliged to accept a reduced participation in a cabinet of national unity headed by Georgios Papandreou.[11] With the withdrawal of the Germans and the establishment of the Papandreou government in Athens in October, the Council dissolved itself on 5 November 1944.[7]
Papastratis, Procopis (2006). "Local Government in Liberated Areas of Occupied Greece". In Bruno De Wever; Herman Van Goethem; Nico Wouters (eds.). Local Government in Occupied Europe (1939-1945). Gent: Academia Press. pp. 205–220.
