Why did Greeks vote to abolish the monarchy in 1974?

In 1974, the Greek electorate voted to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic, effectively ending the reign of Constantine II. This decision followed the collapse of a brutal and inefficient military junta that had misruled the country since 1967.123

The monarchy had been significantly weakened by the political instability of the 1960s and the king's own actions, including his 1965 dismissal of Premier Georgios Papandreou and his failed 1967 countercoup against the military regime. After the junta seized power, it initially retained the monarchy but later declared Greece a republic in 1973, a move confirmed by a referendum that same year.12

Following the restoration of democracy in 1974 under the leadership of Konstantinos Karamanlis, a new referendum was held on December 8, 1974. The Greek people voted decisively against the monarchy, choosing to solidify the nation's transition to a republican form of government.13