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Greek MPs Squabble Over Censure Motion

parliamentA motion brought by the major opposition party Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) to reprimand the government for authorizing a police raid on former workers occupying the headquarters of the now-defunct state broadcaster ERT set off fierce debate in the Parliament that became a contest of arguments on austerity being imposed on the orders of international lenders. A vote isn’t expected until midnight on Nov. 10 but is perfunctory as the coalition government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the New Democracy Conservative leader and his partner, the PASOK Socialists, control the body and tell their members how to vote under threat of being removed from their parties unless they follow orders. Tension was high with political rivals slinging mud and barbs at each other with government critics blaming Samaras and his partner for all the country’s ills real or imagined, and the ruling parties accusing their opponents of being shameless populists. Yiannis Dragasakis, a prominent SYRIZA deputy, told the House that his party’s censure motion was “not only our right but an act of democratic responsibility.” PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos told his MPs earlier in the day that the call for a no confidence vote in the government constituted an “act of irresponsibility against the nation.” SYRIZA called on supporters to hold an anti-austerity protest outside Parliament ahead of the vote which is certain to go the government’s way no matter how big a demonstration is held because the government has 154 of the 300 votes. The Democratic Left, which was the third party in the coalition until quitting in June over the ERT shut-down, has said its 14 MPs will vote “present” because it doesn’t want to take a stand, a usual tactic of the party, while the intentions of most of Parliament’s 11 independents remain unclear.

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