Second PASOK deputy quits Parliament
Ektoras Nasiokas became the second PASOK MP to quit his post on Thursday, claiming the government had reached a dead-end after Prime Minister George Papandreou?s botched attempt to form a government of national unity a day earlier.
Details of Nasiokas?s resignation letter have not been made public yet but like Giorgos Floridis who resigned earlier in the day, it appears that the Larissa MP will be quitting Parliament altogether and not staying on an as an independent.
This is crucial for Prime Minister George Papandreou as Nasiokas will be replaced by another PASOK candidate, meaning the government will retain its 155 seats in Parliament.
While a five-seat majority could be enough to see the government survive the vote of confidence called by Papandreou, it now seems doubtful whether the prime minister himself will be able to continue.
Nasiokas is the third PASOK deputy to resign this week and there are rumors that other Socialist deputies are planning a revolt against Papandreou.
Lawmaker Vasso Papandreou has called for an immediate meeting of PASOK?s parliamentary group.
