Greek Parliament rejects claim of new parliamentary group by three former Spartans MPs
Greek Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis has ruled out the existence of a parliamentary group called the “Alliance of Greeks”, stating that the three independent MPs claiming to represent it do not meet the requirements set out in Parliament's rules.
Speaking to parliamentary correspondents, Kaklamanis said that the three lawmakers could identify themselves as they wished, but could not officially constitute a parliamentary group within the Hellenic Parliament.
The issue arose after three independent MPs formerly affiliated with the far-right Spartans party — Giorgos Manousos, Dionysis Valtoyiannis and Giannis Dimotrokallis — sent a letter to polling companies requesting that the “Alliance of Greeks” be included in their opinion polls. The three MPs claim to represent the political formation in Parliament.
PARLIAMENTARY RULES REQUIRE AT LEAST 10 MPs
Kaklamanis stressed that, under the Greek Parliament's rules of procedure, a parliamentary group must consist of at least 10 MPs.
“They can declare whatever they want. For the Hellenic Parliament, however, they do not constitute a parliamentary group,” he told journalists, adding that polling companies were free to decide how to handle the request.
He reiterated that the institution does not recognise any parliamentary group under the name “Alliance of Greeks”.
PASOK MP RAISES CONCERNS OVER POLLING
The issue was also brought before the Conference of Parliamentary Presidents by Panagiotis Doudonis, a PASOK MP elected on the nationwide list and a constitutional law expert.
Doudonis called for a decision on the matter, arguing that polling companies should not measure support for a political formation that he associated with the legacy of the banned Golden Dawn organisation and its alleged criminal structure.
The controversy comes amid efforts by the three former Spartans MPs to secure broader recognition for their new political formation.
Efsyn / Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA)
