Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the party’s parliamentary group, held in the aftermath of a withdrawal by two of the party’s deputies from their ranks.

Kammenos directly linked the departures of MPs Vassilis Kapernaros and Mika Iatridi with the upcoming election for the Greek President.
“Whoever wants to leave, whoever has been bought out by New Democracy for the election of the President of the Republic or whoever is afraid he or she might not be re-elected with the Independent Greeks, should leave now,” Kammenos told his deputies.

He also described the deputies’ withdrawal as planned and orchestrated.
Moreover, he pointed out that the party’s stance on the Greek President’s election is clear and that no candidate will be voted for, in order to trigger early elections.

According to sources, two deputies allegedly expressed their reservations, claiming the party had better wait for the names of candidate Presidents before determining its stance on the issue. Kammenos rejected such a possibility, saying the main objective was early elections that would lead to a new government.

Mr Kammenos also added that independent deputies are shortly expected to join the Independent Greeks. The party will seek to cooperate with two smaller parties from “the wider democratic-patriotic spectrum”, but such a possibility will be discussed and submitted for approval at the upcoming National Council which will convene on June 14 and 15.