Debate on censure motion against government opens in the Parliament; vote on Sunday night

Debate on a motion of censure against the government opened at Greek Parliament on Friday afternoon with addresses by SYRIZA deputies Dimitris Tzanakopoulos and Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou.

The debate is expected to conclude around 20:00 on Sunday and be followed by a roll-call vote.

The censure motion was introduced on Thursday by Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, who said that a series of crises like the pandemic, price hikes, and snowstorm management "prove that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government are ineffective and dangerous for the country."

Besides ministers, enrolled speakers total 220 deputies: 108 from ruling New Democracy, 70 from Syriza, 17 from Movement for Change (KINAL), 12 from the Communist Party of Greece, 5 from Greek Solution, 6 from MeRA25 and 3 independents.

In order for the motion of censure to be accepted, it must be approved by the absolute majority of the 300 deputies. If it fails to be approved, six months need to pass before a new one may be submitted, according to Greek parliamentary rules.