Popular Unity party

The leader of the far-left Popular Unity party Panayiotis Lafazanis said on Wednesday he refused to provide answers to investigators after he was summoned to Attica Police Headquarters over his alleged illegal possession and use of a gun during protests against foreclosures on the properties of overindebted Greeks.

The leader of the far-left Popular Unity party Panagiotis Lafazanis has been summoned by Attica police authorities to answer charges of illegal gun use and possession.

The summons is part of a wider investigation ordered by an Athens prosecutor into protests against foreclosures on the properties of overindebted Greeks.

Members of the far-left, anti-bailout Popular Unity party, led by former SYRIZA minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, gathered outside a notary's office in central Athens on Wednesday to protest against foreclosures on the properties of overindebted Greeks.

The Athens metro's Panepistimio station will be closed on Tuesday from 4.30 p.m. as members of leftist groups have arranged a rally to express solidarity with Syrian Kurds in Afrin who have come under attack by Turkish forces.

The demonstration is being organized by the far-left Popular Unity party together with organizations representing Kurds living in Greece.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Wednesday said that while Greek authorities have made "welcome" progress in recent weeks to speed up foreclosures and help banks reduce their huge pile of nonperforming loans, more needs to be done "to ensure full geographical coverage across Greece."

The offices of the Popular Unity party, a radical offshoot of leftist SYRIZA created by former government heavyweight Panagiotis Lafazanis after he split from the administration, are going under the hammer.

The former Greek speaker of the house Zoe Konstantopoulou was known for her intellect and wit, but it was her stubborness that led to her downfall.

Greece’s Parliament provided a widely expected vote of confidence to the leftist-dominated SYRIZA coalition government shortly before 2 a.m. on Thursday morning. Of the 299 MPs in Greece’s Parliament, 155 voted in favor, 144 against and 1 abstained. The abstention was that of conservative deputy Nikos Dendias, who sent a letter concerning his opinions which did not count towards the voting.

Combative outgoing Parliament president Zoe Konstantopoulou is apparently leaving her post with a “bang”, days before she is replaced. The outspoken leftist lawmaker failed to get elected with the newly formed Popular Unity party in the Sept. 20 ballot.

There was enthusiasm at SYRIZA’s headquarters on Koumoundourou street from the first exit polls that put the party ahead of its main rival, the conservative New Democracy party. As the night progressed with votes tallied in the party’s favor, reserved joy gave way to smiles and cheers… and the flow of whiskey.