MP quits Independent Greeks following differences on presidential vote
Independent Greeks MP Panayiotis Melas announced his departure from the party on Monday.
Melas has been in dispute with Independent Greeks chief Panos Kammenos over the past few days after refusing to adopt the party’s line on the presidential vote.
The lawmaker refused to commit to opposing any candidate put forward by the government for the February vote in Parliament.
Melas said he took the decision to quit after being implicated in allegations of bribery by another Independent Greeks lawmaker, Stavroula Xoulidou. She claimed that a man who approached her via Facebook suggesting the lawmaker could earn up to 3 million euros by voting with the government also indicated that Melas had been bribed.
Melas’s departure leaves the Independent Greeks with 12 MPs.
