Greek main opposition: The expat vote bill is to gather votes

A specific proposal for a law so that expatriates can be represented through state parliamentarians was submitted by the head of the parliamentary group of main opposition SYRIZA, Sokratis Famellos, calling on the government to take a position on it.

From the podium of the Parliament, Sokratis Famellos harshly criticized the government for the fires, stressing that it is using the climate crisis as an excuse.

The head of the SYRIZA parliamentary group also referred to the fires, saying that by accusing the government of managing the doctrine of “evacuation-compensation” in communication, and to stop shifting the blame. He called on the government to activate the public political prevention that the SYRIZA government had submitted in 2019. To strengthen the forest service as well as the fire department, better coordination of all involved and implementation of the findings of science such as that of the Goldammer commission, which was created by consensus after the Eye.

He emphasized that “we call on the government to stop playing communicatively with the doctrine of “evacuation-compensation” and to kick the can of responsibilities, as it recently tried with the Municipalities. We need full activation of the 2019 forest fire prevention public policy, strengthening of the forest service and the fire brigade, better coordination of all involved, implementation of the findings of science such as that of the Goldammer commission, which has remained in the drawer since 2019″.

On the vote of expatriates

Referring to the bill for the vote of expatriates, Sokratis Famellos pointed out to the ND that “you are thus undermining and circumventing the constitutional provision and the spirit of the Constitution, because you do not create the necessary consents and bring it through a “fast track” procedure”. He reminded that “SYRIZA, even during the previous parliamentary term, had clearly positioned itself in favor of the vote of all Greek men and women abroad, with the proposal to elect a certain number of state parliamentarians and therefore to have this right and possibility for all Greeks abroad”. At the same time emphasizing that “the diaspora should not be integrated into the domestic party confrontation in terms of a party audience. That is why the proposal of our amendment as well as of the homogeneity is the single supra-party ballot”.

In fact, responding to the criticism of Kyriakos Mitsotakis regarding the non-consensus on the legislation, Sokratis Famellos emphasized that “the Left, historically, was, is and will remain a patriotic force of responsibility, which defends the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Greece and as a patriotic force but also because we consider expatriates as national capital we invite you to answer the questions we put to you: Tell us why you do not accept the SAE’s proposal for the vote of emigrants? Why don’t you accept our amendment that implements the Constitution’s proposal for expatriate MPs?”

On zoning

During his speech, Mr. Famellos also referred to the issue of spatial planning in the parliament, causing the strong reaction of the president of the Parliament, Konstantinos Tasoulas. Mr. Famellos wanted to remind Mr. Tasoula about the letter he has sent about the position of the Spartaties far-right wing party which “breaks” the SYRIZA parliamentary group into three. He pointed out that they supported the candidacy of Mr. Tasoula, but he still has not resolved this issue.

This phrase caused the strong reaction of Constantinos Tasoulas, who intervened, saying that SYRIZA is asking in return for supporting him. Mr. Famellos replied that they are not asking for compensation, but to solve the problem of “inconsistency”, as he said. “The correct position of the “Spartaties” is on the upper right,” added the president of the SYRIZA Parliamentary Group.

Sokratis Famellos, argued that the president of the Parliament had told the Conference of Presidents that he would solve the problem of splitting the parliamentary group, however, 20 days have passed, as he said.