Plastiras Government

In the March 1950 elections, the Popular Party and the Liberal Party that had led the government during the Greek Civil War failed to win a majority. The newly formed National Progressive Centre Union (EPEK) under General Nikolaos Plastiras, whose central campaign theme had been reconciliation, formed a short-lived government until August 1950. This period was dubbed the “centrist break”, during which clemency measures were introduced for political detainees and exiles. These measures included changes in operations at Makronissos military camp: all troops who had signed repentance declarations and whose class had been discharged were released, as were civilian signatories. Those refusing to sign were transferred to the camp for political exiles at Ai Stratis.