The discussion over the opposition’s motion against the President of Parliament Evangelos Meimarakis, which was initiated on Sunday after SYRIZA’s motion against Finance Minister Stournaras was rejected, began shortly after 7pm and ended around midnight. This is the first time a motion of censure has been brought against a President of Parliament since 1927.

During the vote 241 MPs participated, with 165 voting against the motion and only 76 in favor. Aside from coalition government partners New Democracy and PASOK, DIMAR also voted against the motion. SYRIZA and Golden Dawn were in favor of the motion, while most of ANEL’s MP abstained and the Communist Party did not participate in the vote.

The discussion in Parliament was tense, with the government Vice President Evangelos Venizelos accusing the opposition of attempting to circumvent the Constitution and the Rule of Law with the motion of censure and SYRIZA eventually departing.

When the opposition’s MPs returned for the vote, they explained that the intention of the motion was not target the President of Parliament personally, but rather the highlight the operation of Parliament, arguing that the refusal to discuss the initial motion brought against the Minister of Finances was a political decision in violation of the Constitution.

Mr. Tsipras also accused the PASOK president of resorting to insults and wild accusations, when all the opposition did was point out a political crime taking place. Furthermore, Mr. Tsipras claimed that the “government deserted the battle” and argued that should a vote of non-confidence have taken place, Mr. Stournaras would not receive the necessary support.