Stavroula Xoulidou

In the first sign of friction between coalition partners SYRIZA and Independent Greeks (ANEL), MPs of the populist right-wing party late Tuesday voted against an amendment regarding the construction of an mosque in the western Athens neighborhood of Votanikos.

Independent Greeks deputy Pavlos Haikalis claimed on Friday that an unidentified individual tried to bribe him to vote in favor of the coalition's candidate in the first round of presidential elections earlier this week.

Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos gave evidence on Thursday before prosecutor Panayiotis Panayiotopoulos regarding the party’s latest accusations regarding bribery of MPs.

“The justice system must be allowed, without interference, to complete its investigation,” he said after leaving the prosecutor’s office.

Independent Greeks MP Panayiotis Melas announced his departure from the party on Monday.

Melas has been in dispute with Independent Greeks chief Panos Kammenos over the past few days after refusing to adopt the party’s line on the presidential vote.

The lawmaker refused to commit to opposing any candidate put forward by the government for the February vote in Parliament.

The man at the heart of allegations that he tried to bribe an Independent Greeks MP on Friday denied any connection with New Democracy.

Giorgos Soukouras has been accused by lawmaker Stavroula Xoulidou (photo) of calling her and contacting her via Facebook to tempt her to vote for the government’s presidential candidate in February in return for up to 3 million euros.

 Lawmaker tells prosecutor man with alleged ND links offered her up to 3 mln euros

Independent Greeks MP Stavroula Xoulidou told a Supreme Court prosecutor Thursday that someone claiming to be a New Democracy member approached her via Facebook and offered her up to 3 million euros to vote for the government’s choice of presidential candidate in February.

Independent Greeks MP Stavroula Xoulidou is to appear before a Supreme Court prosecutor on Thursday to answer questions regarding claims that she was offered a bribe to back the government's presidential candidate.