The proposal of the Speaker of the House K. Tassoulas for changes to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament was voted by the Plenary of the Parliament, which include – among other things – matters of majority in the Conference of Presidents and procedure for imposing a penalty in case of censure for anti-parliamentary behavior of MPs. On principle, ND and SYRIZA voted “yes” to the changes, PASOK and KKE declared “present”, while the other parties, Hellenic Solution, “Spartiates”, Niki and Pleussi Eleftherias, voted “no”.

Specifically,

–Article 1 increases the number of members of the Conference of Presidents by one member, as the chairman of the Special Standing Committee on Research and Technology is added to the participants of the said Conference. According to the rapporteur of the majority Rep. Vesyropoulos, this change is considered decisive for the decision-making process of this parliamentary body, in order to ensure the absolute majority of the Parliamentary Group that has the absolute majority of seats in the Parliament. Article 1 was voted for by ND and SYRIZA and voted against by the other parties.

–Article 2 simplifies the judgment process on whether or not there is an issue at a personal level against a member of parliament. With the proposed amendment, only the president of the Parliament is assigned to decide whether or not there is a personnel issue. Article 2 was voted for by ND and SYRIZA and voted against by the other parties.

–Article 3 simplifies the procedure for imposing a penalty in case of censure for anti-parliamentary behavior of a member of the Greek Parliament. Specifically, it is stipulated that the relevant decision is taken by the president of the Parliament, who in any case has the exclusive authority and responsibility to initiate the relevant censure procedure for anti-parliamentary behavior of a member of the Greek Parliament. Based on this regulation, the penalty is not automatically imposed, but it can be more severe, since it is now possible to cut half of the monthly parliamentary compensation. Article 3 was voted for by the ND and voted against by the opposition.

–Article 4 formally regulates the operation and accommodation in the Hellenic Parliament of the office of the Prime Minister and the General Secretariat of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Article 4 was voted by ND, SYRIZA, PASOK and Niki, KKE and Hellenic Solution declared “present”, while it was voted against by the parties “Spartiates” and Pleussi Eleftherias.

–Article 5 now provides the possibility of renting real estate for a longer period of time to house the services of the Parliament, as well as offices that operate in it. Article 5 was voted by ND, SYRIZA, PASOK, and Niki, “present” declared the KKE, while it was voted against by the parties “Spartians”, Hellenic Solution and Pleussi Eleftherias.

–Article 6 harmonizes the Regulations of the Parliament with what is defined in the provisions of the law 5026/2023 which repealed the law 3213/2003 regarding the new control committee for declarations of assets and declarations of financial interests in accordance with the provisions of article 25 of law 5026/2023, which has already been constituted and reorganized by decisions of the President of the Parliament. Article 6 was voted by ND, SYRIZA, PASOK, and Niki, KKE and Hellenic Solution declared “present”, while the parties “Spartiates” and Pleussi Eleftherias voted against.