In a voting fiasco the Greek Parliament rejected the launch of preliminary investigations into two former agriculture ministers over the OPEKEPE subsidy agency scandal early on Thursday. Ruling New Democracy had the majority of its MPs absent, while some were forced to send postal votes although they were not absent due to duties abroad. At the same time, opposition parties had stormed out the Parliament in protest of the voting procedure.
Angry Greeks speak of “Parliamentary coup d’ etat”, and denounce the postal votes as in violation of the Constitution and the parliamentary procedures.
Motions against ex ministers rejected
None of the four motions submitted met the 151-vote threshold required to proceed.
Two motions concerned ex minister Makis Voridis, submitted by SYRIZA, New Left and PASOK with independent MPs, each received only three votes in favor, with 78 against and one abstention.
The other two motions concerning ex minister Lefteris Avgenakis garnered slightly more support – five votes in favor, 76 against and one abstention – but still fell far short.
Voting tailored to protect ex ND ministers
The vote took place under intense political tension and after a dramatic midnight session, daily kathimerini underlined.
Opposition parties stormed out of Parliament, alleging procedural irregularities due to the limited physical presence of New Democracy MPs at the start of the roll-call vote. Despite objections, the presiding MP of the ruling party, dismissed the challenge and proceeded with a secret ballot.
Voting procedures :
- Article 70A: Postal voting is not permitted in secret ballots such as those concerning criminal responsibilities of ministers.
- Article 155: The decision of the Parliament to initiate prosecution (pre-investigation) is made only by secret ballot.
In the end, only New Democracy MPs and a few independents participated – 83 in total, either in person or by mail-in vote. The opposition continues to challenge the legitimacy of the process and is now weighing its next steps amid growing political friction.
The fiasco vote and its political consequences
A vote highlighted the government’s desire to close the open wound of the OPEKEPE scandal with fast-track procedures, news website in.gr noted adding that theA vote that bore no resemblance to the procedures provided for by the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure.
Already in the previous days, the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis had left open the possibility that ND MPs would withdraw from the vote in order to ensure that no MP would give in to the temptation to vote in favor of the investigationsurprises at the ballot box that could lead to ministerial censure.
The result – which is not recognized by the opposition parties – ensured the amnesty of ND ministers, as after the rejection of the relevant proposal, Parliament cannot reconsider it without first having new facts.
New Democracy implemented a double tactic: it did not announce its intentions, left less than 10 MPs in the Plenary Hall along with its parliamentary representative, and made use of the Covid provision [!] that allowed voting without the physical presence of the MPs and without them being absent on a parliamentary mission abroad or due to serious health problems.
In this way, it ensured that it would be able to provide an answer to the issue that the minority could raise: there were more than 75 MPs in the room in total, which is the smallest possible number for making a decision (Article 67 of the Rules of Procedure), while the postal votes ensured that even after the parties left, this number would not be questioned. The above move also ensured that it would not be questioned and
The total number of ND MPs who used postal voting was 68, while according to information those who voted in person were 9, media reported.
The voting result – which is not recognized by the opposition parties – ensures the amnesty of ND ministers, as after the rejection of the relevant proposals. The Parliament cannot reconsider it without first having new facts.
Now it is open how and if at all the opposition would legally challenge the voting fiasco in the Greek Parliament, while the ruling party tries to win time over the OPEKEPE and EU funds fraud [more on KTG HERE].
