MPs reject reduction in funding, agree to pay debts
Greece’s political parties revealed on Tuesday that they are not willing to accept a reduction in the amount of state funding they receive, but are prepared to accept a chunk of that money going straight toward paying off their large debts.
The issue of party funding was at the center of a debate between MPs who sit on Parliament?s institutions committee.
It was revealed last week that parties owe some 240 million euros to banks, despite a regular rise in the state funding they receive.
Last year, they were awarded 54 million euros of taxpayers? money.
PASOK and New Democracy favored a process whereby parties would receive 60 percent of their funding directly with the other 40 percent going toward repaying their loans.
