Greek gov’t confidence vote debate to stir more tension

A new round of political acrimony is expected this week as Parliament opens discussions Wednesday on a confidence vote called by the government in response to a censure motion filed by opposition New Democracy Monday against Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis.
Polakis has come under fire after suggesting that 34-year-old psychiatrist Stelios Kymbouropoulos, a candidate for the conservative opposition in the upcoming European Parliament elections, made "shameful" use of affirmative action laws to get a state job.
"Anywhere else in the civilized world, [a censure motion] would not be necessary as this particular politician would have been sent home... he's not fit to be minister," said ND leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Announcing the confidence vote, Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis dismissed the conservative party's motion as a publicity stunt. The...