Vangelis Meimarakis

Parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis and the House’s deputy speakers are due to meet at 2.30 p.m. to decide whether MPs should debate and vote on a referendum on the privatisation of the Public Power Corporation (PPC).

Parliament narrowly approved on Wednesday the sale of 30 percent of PPC but immediately afterwards opposition parties submitted proposals for a referendum.

The Greek Parliament on Wednesday approved legislation paving the way for the part-privatization of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) but opposition parties did not give up their efforts to force a discussion about a referendum on the sale.

Democratic Left (DIMAR), the former junior partner in the coalition which saw its support plummet in last month's European Parliament and local authority elections, was dealt another blow on Friday when prominent MP Vassilis Oikonomou announced that he was quitting the party to become an independent.

Parliament said on Wednesday that it was docking part of George Papandreou’s lawmaker’s salary because he had not been present on a number of days last month.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has written to parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis to demand that the House discuss the role of former cabinet secretary Panayiotis Baltakos.

Parliament is to vote on lifting the immunity from prosecution of another four lawmakers of the ultra-right Golden Dawn, and a former MP, on Wednesday, House Speaker Evangelos Meimarakis has informed the magistrates heading a criminal probe into the party.

Parliament Speaker Evangelos Meimarakis on Wednesday sought to reassure the two magistrates leading a criminal investigation into the neofascist Golden Dawn that the House is not dragging its feet over their request to lift the immunity from prosecution of another three lawmakers but following time-consuming procedures.

Parliament speaker Vangelis Meimarakis on Sunday rejected a censure motion called by SYRIZA against Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, prompting the leftists to lodge a new censure motion against Meimarakis and to walk out of Parliament.

Parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis has signed a decision to create a cross-party committee to examine the claim for German war reparations.

The 19-member committee, which is made up of deputies from all political parties, is expected to submit a report on the subject by the end of the year.

Golden Dawn MP for Larissa, in central Greece, Chrysovalantis Alexopoulos, on Saturday announced he was leaving the ultranationalist party and would continue as an independent.