A controversial amendment which provides the abolition and merger of public institutions with a Presidential Decree was submitted and voted in Parliament yesterday.
The amendment, which was introduced to tackle illegal construction, caused the fierce reaction of opposition leaders SYRIZA, requesting a roll call vote. SYRIZA’s Petros Lafazanis dubbed the amendment “despicable”, while ANEL’s Nikos Marias claimed that “it is an alibi to cover up the thousands of dismissals that are to take place”.
DIMAR stated that it would not support the amendment, while KKE’s spokesman Lamproulis detailed that “the government is trying to pave the way for unpopular measures in a provocative way, by dismissing tens of thousands of employees”.
Government MPs also took the opportunity to express their discontent with the Minister of Finances Yannis Stournaras, who recently made disparaging comments about the resolve of cabinet ministers. Former Mayor of Athens Nikitas Kaklamanis threatened to replace Mr. Stournaras, rather than overthrow him.
The Minister of Administrative Reform Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended the amendment, claiming that it will help reorganize the Ministries and likening SYRIZA’s reactions to a coup.
