Vulgar and sexist ND MP shouts at party leader to “go have a child”

Chaos prevailed in the Parliament during the debate before the voting for the censure motion against the government of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday evening, when one of his MPs, Dimitris Kyriazidis, ahouted at Zoe Konstantopoulou, leader of “Freedom course” to “go have a child or adopt one”

His sexist phrase as well as his insistence on not apologizing provoked a strong reaction from the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family Sofia Zacharaki and the entire Plenary incl several ND lawmakers.

According to media information, there was a telephone conversation between Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Parliament Speaker with the Premier asking the Speaker to convey to Kyriazidis that he either apologize immediately or be removed from the party. Shortly afterwards, the MP from Drama, in northern Greece, was referred to the Ethics Committee of the ND parliamentary group with the question of being expelled from the party.removal.

Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis personally apologized to Zoe Konstantopoulou, the female MPs and every Greek woman.

The incident occurred when Speaker Kaklamanis had a dispute with Konstantopoulou over the extended time she used while she was addressing the Plenary.

Konstantopoulou to Speaker: Don’t argue with me. I understand the difficult position of the ND parliamentary group. The truth is that I would have finished before Mr. Kaklamanis intervened. I understand that there is a great difficulty. I finish here because children entered the room…

🏛️ Με τη Ζωή – όχι ότι περιμέναμε αυτή την ατάκα («κάνε κανένα παιδί») του Δημήτρη Κυριαζίδη για να κρίνουμε το ήθος των Νεοδημοκρατών βέβαια…#βουλή | #κυριαζίδης | #κωνσταντοπούλου | #ΝΔ | #πλεύση_ελευθερίας | #πρόταση_μομφής pic.twitter.com/g1sDWUS2NQ

— Sotiris Charalampopoulos (@sotirischaral) March 7, 2025

Then Kyriazidis was heard saying: Go have a child.

Konstantopoulou: Have a child?

Kyriazidis: Or adopt.

Konstantopoulou: Or adopt?

The vulgar comment triggered strong reactions in the Plenary, with Deputy Speaker Odysseas Konstantinopoulos calling on ND MP to immediately apologize.

Lawmakers urged him to do the same, however, Kyriazidis attempted to justify himself by claiming that his phrase was not taken correctly.

Konstantinopoulos: You would help the process if you apologized and took it back

Kyriazidis: For 3 days here you have been calling us murderers? Are we murderers? Did we murder any children? Did anyone protect us. If my sentence was interpreted differently, I understand it. But what you said was not said. I say I did not offend anyone. If it was interpreted differently, it is up to every person…

Minister Sofia Zacharaki intervened, clearly distancing herself, condemned the ND MP and stressing “we are not judged here or anywhere else by whether we have children.

However, Mr. Kyriazidis insisted: I didn’t mean it. If it was taken the way it was taken, I would say it was wrong.

At the end of the day and the many urges by his ND colleagues and lawmakers from other parties, ultimately apologized.

Kyriazidis: Because this disturbance has been caused, I apologize.

The 70-year-old father of four sons has been an officer of the Greek Police and a graduate of the Law School. He has been a member of the Parliament since the summer elections in 2023.

UPDATE: On Saturday morning, the ND Ethics Committee conveyed and expelled Kyriazidis from the Parliamentary Group. The ruling party has nor 156 seats in Parliament of 300.