Controversial provision removed from immigration bill for a second time
Greece’s Deputy Interior Minister Leonidas Grigorakos on Thursday removed from a draft immigration law a provision that foresaw the expulsion of immigrants found to have made a false allegation of racially-motived violence by police authorities.
On Wednesday, Grigorakos removed the provision following criticism from leftist SYRIZA opposition as well as reservations from PASOK, New Democracy’s coalition partner. A modified version was reintroduced later Wednesday.
The provision was eventually scrapped on Thursday.
“We have no intention of discouraging allegations of racist violence and for this reason we are withdrawing [the provision], Grigorakos said.