Greece: censure motion against Mitsotakis
Against the backdrop of the snowstorms that paralysed parts of the country earlier this week, the largest left-wing opposition party Syriza has tabled a motion of no confidence in the Greek parliament against the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis. To topple the government 151 votes are needed, but theruling party Nea Dimokratia holds 158 of the 300 seats. Was the motion the move?
Now the government will be held to account
The motion of no confidence is an important political step, writes Avgi:
“Not because the current parliamentary majority is expected to be overturned. No government gives up its power just because the opposition asks it to, no matter how badly it has behaved. This is an important step because the government will be embroiled in a full debate for three days. It will have to apologise for its lack of action. And it will be forced to give answers - as many as it can find and as many as it can invent - to justify its actions. ... And the citizens will see and judge. These three days will not be easy for the government.”
Now he can shine with his rhetoric
The motion comes as a gift to the government, Protagon counters:
“Mitsotakis must have cracked open a bottle of champagne on Thursday afternoon. ... Just as his government is under perhaps more pressure than it has ever faced since its election in 2019 over its mismanagement of the weather crisis, Alexis Tsipras submits this motion. So instead of letting the government wear itself out or at least steer itself towards its own demise, the opposition has offered the prime minister a unique opportunity to gather all his forces and play a leading role in a parliamentary contest with no substance and probably no audience - except those directly affected. The prime minister should thank the leader of the opposition for this.”