Opposition parties boycott Parl’t session on proposals for referendum on PPC selloff
A discussion in Parliament on whether proposals by opposition parties for a debate on a referendum about the partial privatization of the Public Power Corporation can be approved began in the House on Friday but leftist SYRIZA, Independent Greeks and Communist Party (KKE) MPs did not attend the session.
The opposition MPs boycotted the discussion, called by coalition lawmakers, after deeming it to be a “parody” and a “deeply undemocratic constitutional aberration.”
Late on Thursday, addressing a conference organized by The Economist, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras had suggested that SYRIZA were prepared to cooperate with the neofascist Golden Dawn in a bid to garner the necessary support for the launch of a debate on a possible referendum on the PPC selloff. In his speech, Samaras spoke of “so-called democrats” who do not hesitate to cooperate with Golden Dawn in order to hamper progress.
The support of a minimum of 120 MPs is needed for Parliament’s plenary session, now in summer recess, to be recalled and a debate to begin. Without KKE, the number of MPs backing a debate on a plebiscite would be 127, which is adequate but would oblige other parties to cooperate with the neofascist GD. If KKE’s signatures are counted, the total is 123. But it remained doubtful whether KKE will agree to sign a common proposal with other parties.
