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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-06
CONTENTS
[01] Four MPs, 3 three from PASOK, ex-FM Bakoyannis expelled from
respective Parliament groups
[01] Four MPs, 3 three from PASOK, ex-FM Bakoyannis expelled from
respective Parliament groups
(ANA-MPA) -- Greece's Parliament on Thursday ratified a draft bill
formally requesting activation of a eurozone-IMF support mechanism for
the country, which is expected to reach 110 billion euros, although
four deputies' positions outside "party lines" led to their expulsion
from their respective Parliamentary groups.
Following lengthy addresses by the prime minister and four other
political party leaders, 172 deputies -- from ruling PASOK party and
the small right-of-centre Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) -- voted in
favour of the legislation, whereas three PASOK deputies voted
"present". Voting against were 121 MPs -- from main opposition New
Democracy (ND) party, the Communist Party (KKE) and the Radical Left
Coalition (SYRIZA). (ANA-MPA)
Former foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis, who was a rival against
current ND leader Antonis Samaras in a recent internal party leadership
race, was expelled from ND's Parliament group after voting in favour of
the bill. Samaras announced the ouster of Bakoyannis, the daughter of
former prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis. (ANA-MPA)
On his part, shortly after the roll-call vote, Prime Minister George
Papandreou conveyed a letter to the Parliament president announcing the
expulsion of the three PASOK deputies who voted "present", namely,
Yiannis Dimaras, Sofia Sakorafa and Vassilis Economou. PASOK's general
director, Regina Vartzeli later asked the deputies to relinquish their
seats, with Sakorafa refusing and Economou declining to answer, while
Dimaras was unavailable. (ANA-MPA)
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