By Antonis Anzoletou

The debate on the way the MEPs will be elected has opened again, as wrote yesterday. THE Prime Minister in his recent interview with “Parapolitika” he stated that the issue of electing MEPs will be re-evaluated after the national elections. And the Minister of the Interior also mentioned the issue, Makis Voridis, speaking on public television. No one claims that the cross or the list is to blame for the irregular behavior of the representatives in Brussels. Nor can each party know what their candidate is “hiding” as long as there is no troubling evidence or dishonest past that has not been investigated.

The presumption of innocence cannot be disputed, however, a debate has opened on whether parties when they have clues or rumors about their executives should reach the in-depth investigation. This is what they claim they did to SYRIZA last summer for Alexis Georgoulis, but without anything untoward arising.

Regardless of the electoral system with which the European elections will be held a year from now, it is almost certain that the next majority will proceed with changes. There are many parliamentary officials – not only government officials – who consider it extremely problematic that in the European elections the preference cross and indeed in a single national region. The popular are favored and it is extremely difficult for anyone “not a name” or financially strong to campaign. How can a competent party official who has worked for several years in Brussels and is knowledgeable about European issues compete with an artist or a working politician? And as noted by experienced politicians, the MEP represents his country and is called upon to deal with complex issues that in many cases require specialized knowledge.

The removal of the preference cross and the restoration of the list, if this solution is qualified, does not require an increased majority in Parliament. It is recalled that the cross in the European elections was established after his proposal Evangelos Venizelos during the N.D – PASOK co-government period before the 2014 elections. The other scenario that will be put on the table is the division of the Greek region into smaller ones so that the vote is split and not unified. However, no one can rule out that in the next Parliament, whatever its composition, ND and SYRIZA will find common ground on this matter. There are quite a few members of the current official opposition, as well as of the government, who had expressed strong objections to the fact that the cross favors the “star system” and in several cases there is no substantial representation in Brussels.