Independent Greeks (AN.EL) leader Panos Kammenos on Tuesday reiterated his party’s opposition any liberalization in legislation regarding the naturalization of children of foreign nationals that are permanent residents in Greece.
Kammenos’ right-of-center anti-austerity AN.EL party is the junior member in the current government.
The “faster track” naturalization prospect is one that pits the coalition partners on a possible collision course.
“We are, as Independent Greeks, a parliamentary group of 13 deputies, vote according to the principles by which we were elected to Parliament. If the (proposed) legislation is contrary to our beliefs … then we will not vote for it.”
Leftist SYRIZA has advocated the granting of Greek citizenship to the children of non-natives, when the former are born and raised in Greece.
The outspoken Kammenos, said that although he agreed to form a coalition government with SYRIZA, his party disagrees with its partner on this subject. He nevertheless said he wouldn’t have a problem with granting citizenship rights to third generation immigrants.