The 1926 election is interesting for three reasons: they were the first elections after 1862 that were held by ballot, the simple proportional system was applied for the first time, and because the Communist party won seats in parliament.

Theodoros Pangalos was overthrown by General Georgios Kondylis on August 26, 1922. The reason for the coup against Pangalos were his disregard of the constitution, press censorship, and the arrest and imprisonment of political opponents. Even his supporters turned against him. Pangalos escaped from Athens on a destroyer which was chased by another destroyer, the Kilkis.

Kondylis promised elections and invited Admiral Koundouriotis to assume the presidency once again. The latter stated “on the suppression of the dictatorship, I today resume my duties as President, in which office I was installed by the Fourth National Assembly of the Hellenes.”

Kondylis was appointed temporarily as premier and also held the war and marine portfolios.

On September 9, the Republican Guard resisted an order to disband as they tried to overthrow the government. The Athens guard with troop reinforcements from Chalkis surrounded the coup plotters and told them to lay down their arms. They were finally overpowered by government troops. Communist and other civilian elements began an anti-military demonstration securing, an armored car and overpowering the guards. The Athens garrison turned its attention to the demonstrators, which resulted in 70 persons killed and 130 wounded.

The revolt was led by Lt-Colonels Zervas and Dertilis, who assisted Pangalos to become dictator and by his removal “got it into their heads they could actually dominate the Government of Greece.” Both were arrested, court-martialled and, sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. Kondylis’ action enhanced his political position by strengthening the popular desire for the complete divorce of the military from the government.

Showing his good faith as premier, Kondylis issued a decree on September 22 which was published in the Government Gazette and indicated that a general election would be held. He disbanded his political party and told them to work with Kafandaris and Michalacopoulos. The new electoral law introduced for the first time a simple proportional system – and the ballot in place of a ball, as a means of voting, for the first time since 1862. The Greek people were indifferent to the feuds and political instability caused by the military. They simply wanted a return to a normal life free of military coups and counter-coups.

The military and the government did not interfere with electoral canvassing and political leaders and candidates of all parties toured the country and were allowed to hold public meetings wherever they went. Kondylis kept his promise to keep the military out politics and to ensure that Greeks would have the opportunity to vote in the forthcoming election. Newspapers were free to publish what they wished “despite the provisions of a very illiberal Defence of Regime Act.”

After the promulgation of the Constitution and much acclaim for returning the country to a rule of law, Kondylis faced the situation that there was a desire of some individuals who had served as ministers under Pangalos to run as candidates for parliament. A conflict ensued between the executive and judiciary which resulted in a series of decrees issued by Kondylis which prohibited former ministers in the Pangalos administration to run as candidates.

Some of Pangalos’ collaborators appealed to various courts of First Instance in Athens, Lamia, Chios, and Evros with writs allowing them to stand, however, several judges of these tribunals declared such action as unconstitutional.

Another decree suspended Article 92 of the Constitution, dismissing judges and denouncing the objectionable decisions made by them.

This brought a huge outcry from both Republicans and Royalists who accused Kondylis of acting in a dictatorial manner. It also went against his principle of non-interference by the government in the electoral process. Kondylis issued a third decree reviving Article 92 of the Constitution and reinstating the dismissed judges.

On October 31, Kondylis explained his reasons behind issuing these decrees: “our purpose in issuing them was to ensure the chastisement of those who because of mere selfish personal interest made themselves instruments of the violation of those liberties during fourteen whole months, to the great material and prejudice of the nation.”

Earlier Kondylis had proposed in a manifesto outlining the importance of the election and informing people how to vote. Their votes were important for the stability of the Republic and also for avoiding past dangers. The anti-Venizelist press attacked him for calling them “incorrigible monarchists” – he wanted to ensure that monarchists did not attain a parliamentary majority. During the election campaign, Tsaldaris, the leader of the People’s Party, made a speech in Salonika where he mentioned the Trial of Six in 1922, the executions, and the abdication of King Constantine. His party was neither directly or indirectly proposing the restoration of the monarchy, however. It was left to the people to decide on the choice of government. No distinction was to be made between Venizelists and Royalists. Speaking on the island of Syra, Michalacopoulos for the Liberals mentioned that past events needed to be forgotten and that his party had attained a majority. It was time to revive commerce and industry, cut unemployment, and to stop government waste.  He“asked voters to support the Union of Liberal Parties.”

On November 7, a U.S. State Dept document from Athens reported the election result. It stated that: the “Liberal Union (Kafandaris-Michalacopoulos) had 300, 941 voters; Popular (People’s) Party (Royalists-Extremists) had 194,244; Free Opinion (Metaxas-Moderate Royalists) had 151,002; Republican Union (Papanasstasiou) had 62,503; the Communists had 40,988; and the Agrarians had 26,881. There were 44 other groups which [included] a group of independent refugees. The principal refugee vote was cast for the Liberal Union. The total vote was 961,347.” (RG59 868.00/564 U.S. Legation, Athens, November 14, 1926.)

The election did not produce a party with a clear majority, leading all commercial, industrial, and trade unions to hold a mass meeting outside the Presidential Palace asking for a coalition government. The press generally saw it as the “only road to the country’s salvation. Finally, Alexander Zaimis formed an ‘ecumenical government’ drawn from all parties. It won the confidence of the Greek people and the international community.

In conclusion, Kondylis’ overthrow of the Pangalos’s dictatorship ushered in a period of peace and stability in Greek politics and civil life for a few years.