Justice minister defends prior actions bill as 'lesser of two evils'

"There is no contradiction in the position I express: among two evils, I choose the lesser evil. I have no problem with my conscience because I chose for the good of the people," Paraskevopoulos replied to stinging criticism from Parliament President Zoi Konstantopoulou.

Paraskevopoulos said that he would also prefer more a less rushed Parliamentary process but was nevertheless recommending the bill - despite objecting to one or two points - because the alternative was a possible exit from the euro and hardship for everyone, especially the weakest.

He promised to try to change the two measures in the bill that he considered problematic at a later stage.

The minister had been urged to adopt a position in the face of the disagreement within ruling SYRIZA's ranks by main opposition New Democracy and PASOK, who supported the legislation.

"The Parliament president has denounced you as objects of blackmail by the creditors and [said that you are] the organs of the creditors and lacking free will. You cannot just sit there. Either resign together or table a censure motion against the Parliament president," ND MP Nikos Dendias urged.