MPs voting on return of Novartis file to judiciary

Coalition MPs were poised late on Friday to approve a parliamentary panel's decision to return to the judiciary an investigation implicating Greek politicians in a bribery scandal involving Swiss drug manufacturer Novartis. 

Following hours of acrimonious debate, most of the political opposition parties boycotted the vote, accusing the governing parties of using underhand tactics to discredit their political rivals.

The 10 politicians named in a prosecutors' report that led to the creation of the parliamentary committee include two former prime ministers and several former ministers.

Some of them took the stand, accusing the leftist-led coalition of a smear campaign against its conservative and socialist rivals.

Former conservative premier Antonis Samaras accused the government of "conspiracy." "So, for this, you will face a special court," Samaras said in...