The mark of their intentions against the amendment on residence permits for foreign workers was formulated, by their intervention during the budget debate, by the representatives of the parties.

The parliamentary representative of SYRIZA Nikos Pappas said that since the amendment was tabled, “we are seeing in the public discourse a contestation of extreme right-wing views.” In this climate, Nikos Pappas said that “SYRIZA calls on the government not to back down and to go ahead with the amendment”, because “it is an amendment that solves problems, it will contribute, so that there is not too much undeclared work and they fall and insurance contributions to farmers and professionals and is in the right direction.” The SYRIZA parliamentary representative also said: “we have seen the statements of Mr. Samaras. We evaluate them. There is a question of whether there is a majority, whether the New Democracy will persist and we would also like a statement from the government seats.”

The parliamentary representative of PASOK Michalis Katrinis he said that the whole matter is a very serious matter, much more serious than the intra-party dimensions it takes on in the ruling party. “Obviously there should be safeguards so that the wrong message is not given. At the same time, however, a solution should be given to an existing issue that exists, which is requested by the whole country. However, the mechanisms must be strengthened and there must be a procedure with rules and of course together with the request of the local communities, especially in the productive areas, which this amendment wants to provide a solution, the appropriate message must also be given by strengthening the structures so that the examination of applications is done quickly and the wrong message is not given that the country is a free space where anyone can enter, without rules”, said the PASOK parliamentary representative. PASOK Member of Parliament Pavlos Christidis said that PASOK has learned over the years, in extremely difficult circumstances, to place value on things. “And if there’s anything we’ve gained from all of this, it’s that we can go out and defend policies that we believe in, at any time, on any issue. Which is not the case with you. Something that we see emerging in the last hours, I would say the last minutes within the New Democracy, in a way that is deafening. Because the statements of Mr. Samaras, regarding the amendment brought by your government, show that you sowed far-right winds and reaped intra-party storms. I wish you good luck. Good riddance, because what you did, you will find in front of you”, said Mr. Christidis.

The parliamentary representative of the Hellenic Solution, Kontantinos Chitas, asked the government to withdraw the “shameful” amendment because it “gives a residence permit to all illegally entered immigrants, even those whose residence application has been rejected.” Mr. Chitas said that “the granting of licenses should proceed, even if the competent authorities have an opposite opinion”. In other words, said Mr. Chitas, with this amendment it is like saying “we are open and we are waiting for you”, “to all illegal immigrants”. The parliamentary representative of the Hellenic Solution also reserved a sharp reference to the parliamentarians of the ND: “Because the jackass dude died, some who make the jackass dudes not to give a vote of confidence in the budget and to resign since they don’t agree. I am addressing Mr. Samaras.”

Niki’s parliamentary representative, Nikos Vrettos, also described this particular amendment as “shameful”. Mr. Vrettos read to the plenary the names of the ministers who co-signed the amendment, “so that the Greek people know who legislates at night and for what reasons”.