NEWS

Motion for ‘Greeks only’ military withdrawn

A motion put forward by conservative deputies who wish only those of Greek ethnicity, as defined by blood and birth, to serve in the military was withdrawn Thursday after it was rejected by lawmakers from coalition partners PASOK and Democratic Left.

The nationalist Independent Greeks party also refused to back the proposed change to the law on Thursday. Party leader Panos Kammenos said he agreed with the content of the motion but said the move was designed to serve partisan objectives.

A total of 84 out of 125 deputies from New Democracy proposed that naturalized Greeks should not be allowed to enter military academies due to national security concerns.

The chief of the National Defense General Staff, Michalis Kostarakos, had backed the proposal.

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