Five Greek lawmakers remain unvaccinated against Covid-19, one of whom is from the ruling party New Democracy, Parliament Speaker Konstantinos Tassoulas said on Wednesday. The other four are reportedly from smaller political parties.
The unidentified MP has invoked medical reasons to justify the decision not to get the Covid-19 jab, he added.
Tassoulas has refused requests by the main opposition to publish their names, citing privacy laws.
Also on Wednesday, the chairman of the meeting, MP Nikitas Kaklamanis revealed that “until the last Conference of Presidents, there were six vaccinated colleagues. As of yesterday it is five. Mr. Polakis has been vaccinated.”
Kaklamanis was referring to Pavlos Polakis, a doctor, who served as alternate health minister under left-wing SYRIZA 2015-2019, and who was often expressing views against the Covid-vaccines.
Unvaccinated lawmakers will not be denied entrance to the Parliament this fall, but they will have to produce two negative coronavirus tests per week to attend the sessions.
Only an authorized doctor will check the MPs’ tests twice a week and if they are negative, they will be allowed to be in the Palriament and take the floor if they wish.
The Greek Parliament has 300 lawmakers. The Parliament currently consists of the ruling conservatives ND, five parties in opposition (SYRIZA main opposition, KINAL/PASOK, KKE, Greek Solution, MeRA25) and 1 independent MP.
PS Now everybody tries to find out who these 5 unvaccinated MPs are.
