The Greek Parliaments has rejected with 158 votes the censure motion against Finance Minister Christos Staikouras over the new bankruptcy law submitted by main opposition party Syriza. With the exception of former Finance Minister Yianis Varoufakis’ MeRA 25, all opposition parties voted with 133 votes in favor of the motion.
MPs of MeRA25 left the plenary before the voting late on Sunday.
SYRIZA leader and former PM Alexis Tsipras tabled the censure motion against Staikouras last Thursday.
The new bankruptcy Law contains provisions for the bankruptcy of both businesses and private individuals, including regulations on home owners who have defaulted on their debts.
Calling the draft bill “an abomination”, Tsipras described it as “a law of bankruptcy and impoverishment extending to individuals and families.”
The bill will “immediately liquefy their assets” and “tear down the protection of a primary home, turning secretly Greeks poor.” Tsipras stressed that the Law endangers the status of home owners during a pandemic.
During the motion debate in Parliament Staikouras said that Tsipras was the one who signed away the protection of the primary home in 2019, while thousands of foreclosed properties were auctioned off under the Syriza government.
However, SYRIZA responded that no primary residence was auctioned during its governance.
