By Yannis Anifantis

Knives came out between Olga Kefalogianni and Theanos Fotiou, at the meeting of the permanent production and trade committee, with the thermometer in the room rising vertically, when during the confrontation between the two politicians, it was heard from the side of the MP of the New Left the phrase “hell”.

“What did you say; Will you repeat it?”, answered Mrs. Kefalogianni in a strong tone, emphasizing: “is this how you have learned to speak in parliament?” And your problem is the Regulation? You don’t know basic social behavior here. Such market expressions are only heard from such persons in here. Same on you!”. However, Mrs. Fotiou maintained that she did not say anything.

The confrontation started when Mrs. Fotiou complained to the bureau and the minister that they were violating the procedures. “We are waiting for everyone to speak and for him to answer us as a whole,” commented the MP of the New Left.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. Kyriazidis, explained that the minister has this possibility, with Mrs. Fotiou insisting, “since when do I not know that? That’s how many years I’ve been in the Parliament.” The minister’s comment was well received, with her stressing that “because Mrs. Vetta felt the need to defend the dramatic five-year SYRIZA, find a way between yourselves”.

Indicative of the tension that followed is the following dialogue:

THEANO FOTIOU: Please, Mr. Minister, you will not engage in petty politics over a bill.

OLGA KEFALOGIANNI: Everyone remembers that tourism…

THEANO FOTIOU: Oh hell!!!

OLGA KEFALOGIANNI: What did you say? Will you do it again? Is this how you learned to speak in parliament? And your problem is the Regulation? You don’t know basic social behavior here. Such market expressions are only heard from such persons in here. Same on you!

A little later, however, the MP took the floor again, and addressing the chairman of the committee, she claimed that she did not say anything “indecent”: “As you know, you didn’t even get news that I said something indecent. I personally said that I did not say anything inappropriate to the Minister or to the body. But this is the exploitation by a political person who at this moment wants to create a problem”.