Golden Dawn threatens mass resignations, Parliament eyes disciplinary measures
Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos said on Friday that MPs from his far-right party might resign in protest when new austerity measures are brought to Parliament. His threat came as the House was apparently preparing to clamp down on the unruly behavior of some of Golden Dawn?s lawmakers during debates.
Speaking during a discussion on Kontra TV on Friday, Michaloliakos said that the party might choose mass resignations as a form of protest against the new austerity package the government is set to agree with a troika.
?We could have MPs from all constituencies resigning, or maybe even from one, we don?t know yet,? he said. ?What is for sure is that we will oppose the measures.?
The neofascist party has 18 lawmakers, whose resignation would force elections to be held in their constituencies. It is not clear if such an action would also jeopardize the vote on the measures, although this seems unlikely.
Michaloliakos?s claim comes amid growing concern about the way his party?s MPs conduct themselves in Parliament. Golden Dawn deputies have repeatedly hurled insults at other MPs and used derogatory comments.
Sources told Kathimerini that Parliament Speaker Evangelos Meimarakis is now determined to use the House regulations to censure MPs. Under parliamentary rules, lawmakers can have part of their wages docked or even be temporarily banned from sessions if their behavior is deemed unacceptable.
Earlier this week, Deputy Speaker Yiannis Dragasakis asked for comments by Michaloliakos?s wife and Golden Dawn lawmaker Eleni Zaroulia referring to migrants as ?subhuman? to be recorded in Parliament?s minutes, possibly for use in a future disciplinary procedure.
