Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sought to push the “Ratification of the draft contract for funding by the European Stability mechanism and regulations for the implementation of the funding agreement” through Greek Parliament through fast-track procedures. In an attempt to filibuster the procedure, Parliamentary Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou scheduled to convene Parliamentary committee sessions on Wednesday night at 9.30 p.m.
Sources state that Tsipras tried to contact Konstantopoulou by phone on Tuesday to no avail. Fearing that her stand would delay procedures, Tsipras wrote her a letter asking for the immediate convergency of the Plenary that is now in summer recess so that the new agreement could be voted on Thursday.
Using tactics to stall the voting procedure, Konstantopoulou pointed to the regulations of Parliament that point to no committee meetings on Wednesday before committee presidents can meet to issue a decision for Greek Parliament to convene. Experts, however, state that the Speaker of the House has the authority to convene a meeting without the meeting of presidents.
The latest situation shows that the chasm between Konstantopoulou and the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leadership is getting larger.