Parliament speaker rejects SYRIZA censure motion against Stournaras


Parliament speaker Vangelis Meimarakis on Sunday rejected a censure motion called by SYRIZA against Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, prompting the leftists to lodge a new censure motion against Meimarakis and to walk out of Parliament.

Meimarakis rejected SYRIZA's move, which came a few hours before MPs were to vote on a multi-bill of reforms that is a prerequisite for the release of further rescue loans. SYRIZA's move was found to violate the Constitution as it has been less than six months since SYRIZA brought a censure motion against the government. That motion, lodged last November, was rejected. Also, Meimarakis noted that a censure motion cannot be brought against a minister for submitting a government bill rather than a personal issue.

The surprise move by SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, made during a debate in Parliament on Sunday about the multi-bill of structural reforms and other measures, fuelled upheaval in the ranks of the government which is hoping to pass the multi-bill into law ahead of an informal summit of eurozone finance ministers due to start in Athens on Tuesday.

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