Greek parliament starts debate on omnibus draft bill, vote to conclude by midnight

Gazzetta team 15 Ιουλίου 2015 - 21:57

The Greek parliament started at 21.15 local time on Wednesday the debate on the omnibus draft bill which includes the prior actions agreed upon by Greece and its lenders during the last summit meeting in Brussels.

The debate and roll call vote is expected to have concluded by midnight, as it was decided during the meeting of presidents earlier. The proposal was submitted by SYRIZA’s parliamentary spokesman Nikos Filis and was approved with 10 votes. Seven voted against the move and two voted “present” (the representatives of the Communist party). Lawmakers from New Democracy, Potami, the Independent Greeks (ANEL) and PASOK voted in favour of the motion.

Political interest will center on the coalition government’s MPs who have expressed disagreements or objections and on the stance they will eventually keep during the vote.

Before the start of the debate, SYRIZA MP Giorgos Kyritsis was sworn in with a political oath, replacing Nikos Chountis who resigned. Chountis will in turn replace MEP Manolis Glezos in the European parliament.