Hellenic Parliament

The Greek Parliament's Institutions and Transparency Committee has endorsed the appointment of Vassiliki Thanou, former chief of the Supreme Court, as head of country's independent Competition Commission.

Her appointment was backed by MPs from SYRIZA, Independent Greeks (ANEL), the Union of Centrists and Golden Dawn.

A court accepted on Thursday a request by an American company to invite two former ministers and two former ministry officials to testify in an ongoing investigation into a cash-for-contracts scandal involving the acquisition of a security and surveillance system by Greece in the run-up to the Olympic Games of 2004.

The Greek Parliament decided on Wednesday that the Constitutional Revision Committee, the body responsible for examining the government's proposed amendments to the Constitution, will deliver its report on January 15.

Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis issued a statement on Friday claiming that the transfer of November 17 hitman to an agricultural prison from Attica's high-security Korydallos penitentiary would not result in a reduction of the convict's sentence.

Marking a potential crisis in the government, the junior coalition partner in the Greek government, Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader, Panos Kammenos said early on Tuesday that the Macedonia name deal is "bad" and can only be approved through a referendum or via elections.

The annual sessions of the so-called Youth Parliament (Vouli ton Efivon) will get underway on Monday with the participation of 300 youngsters form Greece and abroad. This year's theme is the concept of being different in school.

Events will end on Friday with a plenary session in Parliament.

The continued detention by Turkey of two Greek soldiers who accidently crossed the land border in early March is "barbaric," Deputy Defense Minister Fotis Kouvelis said on Wednesday.

His comments to Sto Kokkino FM came a day after a Turkish court rejected a fourth request for the two Greek soldiers to be released.

Greek Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis on May 16 visited two Greek soldiers who have been detained in Turkey since March. 

Greek parliament resumed on Tuesday a debate in its plenary session over a labor ministry draft bill that will extend the right of fostering a child to couples that have signed a cohabitation agreement, including same-sex couples.

The discussion started with the political party rapporteurs and will conclude on Wednesday with a vote on the bill.

Repair work on the leaky glass dome that covers the Greek Parliament building in Athens which began last month is to continue until the autumn. Scores of workers are involved in the project to fix the dome, which also requires the use of a large crane. The construction of the building, which was designed by German architect Friedrich von Gartner, began in 1836 and ended in 1842.