The amendment that provides changes in mass media was approved by the Parliament with a majority vote.
The discussion on the amendment was intense while the main opposition party SYRIZA and Communist Party of Greece (KKE) left the session, accusing the government of committing a crime regarding the media. SYRIZA parliamentary spokesman Panagiotis Kouroumplis said: “We will not be complicit in a crime against mass media. The government sees that elections are very close now and wants to form new relationships with the media system”.
A similar reaction was expressed by the parliamentary spokesman of KKE Karathanasopoulos Nikos, who, after announcing that his party will leave the session, he submitted a request for a roll call vote on amendment.
The spokesman of Golden Dawn Elias Panagiotaros described this amendment as a “gift from the God towards the powerful people of media”.
The parliamentary spokesperson of Democratic Left Nikos Tsoukalis said that the government has a turned a discussion on a bill that was acceptable by everyone to “another fight” and argued that the essential and formal report of the State General Accounting Office is missing from the amendment.
Also, the parliamentary spokesman of Independent Greeks Terens Kouik announced that his party will vote “present” on the amendment.
The government spokesperson Sophia Voultepsi intervened and commented by saying that “when you want to discuss something you do not leave” adding that SYRIZA “cannot live without media”.
Also, she announced that sections 2 and 3 will be deleted from the amendment and that she would take measures to solve the institutional problems of journalists.
This amendment along with the bill for the seashore and the multi-bill are the last three fights between the government and the opposition within these days.
However, the main concern of government officials is not limited only to the reactions of the members of the opposition, but also of the MPs of the government scheme, since many of them are threatening that they will not vote for the amendment regarding the publication of the press.
Specifically, the MP of New Democracy, Kostas Grekas, expressed his disagreement by saying that an article should not mark the end of the regional press of Greece. He also asked to review the article and give the opportunity to local newspapers to avoid closing by finding alternative sources of funding. Moreover, he asked to conduct a study so that the press would remain and continue its important work.
This morning the amendment regarding the mergers in the field of Media will be voted and later this afternoon a voting will be conducted for the forestry bill. The main opposition party SYRIZA has expressed its strong reaction on this bill and has asked for a roll call vote.
