The controversial anti-racism bill of legislation has caused tension, reflecting the ideological distance between the three government partners New Democracy, PASOK and DIMAR. The Prime Minister Antonis Samaras either has to accept the bill, which could cost him politically, or he could vote against it and side with Golden Dawn.
The other two government partners Venizelos and Kouvelis did not hold back at yesterday’s meeting and questioned the government’s coordination, the rules of the government’s operation and requested that the agreement between the three government parties be updated.
The PASOK and DIMAR leaders refused to see the Minister of Labor Giannis Vroutsis, reflecting their hard edge. Mr. Venizelos in particular has expressed his resentment towards Mr. Vroutsis’ performance, especially over his proposal for tackling the serious unemployment issue.
The situation was not improved when the Central Legislative Committee announced that it found the anti-racism law to conflict with the Constitution. PASOK and DIMAR were furious, while even New Democracy Ministers were critical of the PM’s tactics.
Mr. Kouvelis stated that “any delay will be unacceptable” and that he questioned the government’s cooperation. In the case that New Democracy disagrees with submitting the anti-racism bill, Mr. Venizelos ordered the secretary of his party’s Parliamentary Group Giannis Maniatis to forward PASOK’s proposal to the President of Parliament Evangelos Meimarakis.
Despite the tension though, PASOK and DIMAR have not excluded the possibility of making changes to the proposed legislation, should they discuss the matter at the next government meeting. The Prime Minister is ambivalent about the situation, since he does not want to rock the relations with his government partners.
