Just two days after announcing the new law against racism, Greek government decided to put it on hold. Officially some technical modifications are needed. Unofficially, it looks as if there was some disagreement within the coalition government partners. Odd enough, the prime minister apparently consulted with the deputy Justice minister on the upcoming changes and not the minister himself.
The bill foresaw tougher sentences for racially motivated crimes especially committed by lawmakers of neo-Nazi Golden Dawn.
We will know the truth, once the new-new law will appear again.
“Government sources suggested that some of the bill’s provisions needed to be “reassessed.” State Minister Dimitris Stamatis, who asked the Justice Ministry to put off publishing the bill, spoke to Roupakiotis about some areas that need to be examined.
The main disagreement, though, appears to be over whether the draft law will act as a deterrent for far-right Golden Dawn or if it will allow the party to claim it is being persecuted and, therefore, turn it into a recruitment exercise. Samaras favors the latter interpretation, while Roupakiotis, a Democratic Left candidate who has had previous run-ins with New Democracy officials in the coalition, believes the former is more likely.” (full story ekathimerini)
