SYRIZA lawmaker Elena Akrita has criticised the debate surrounding her nomination for vice president of the Hellenic Parliament, saying the government cannot dictate institutional appointments.
Speaking on the One Channel programme Tonight, Akrita described the focus on her candidacy as tragicomic. She added that the attention was disproportionate to the actual problems currently facing Greek society.
She argued that no administration, whether the ruling conservative New Democracy party or any future government, should use its parliamentary majority to apply what she called face control to candidates for institutional positions.
The Hellenic Parliament, a 300-seat legislature, elects several vice presidents to its presidium. These positions are traditionally distributed among the elected parties, giving the opposition representation in the running of the chamber.
Legal dispute with prime minister's wife
Akrita also addressed her ongoing legal dispute with Mareva Grabowski, the wife of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Grabowski previously launched defamation proceedings against Akrita. However, the lawmaker said this private legal matter should not influence the selection of parliamentary officials.
She pointed out that the prime minister's wife does not hold an institutional position. Therefore, Akrita argued, a personal dispute cannot serve as grounds to exclude an elected representative from a parliamentary role.
One term in parliament
Discussing the wider political landscape, Akrita addressed the electoral prospects of SYRIZA. The left-wing party, which formed the main opposition after losing power to New Democracy, has recently faced internal divisions and a drop in public support.
Despite the low polling numbers, she expressed confidence that SYRIZA would secure enough votes to maintain a presence in the next parliament.
However, Akrita, a prominent journalist and author who entered politics with the party, indicated she would not be seeking re-election herself. She said she was not interested in running again, suggesting that a single term in office was sufficient.
Cancer surgery cancellations
During the interview, the lawmaker shifted focus to issues she said were directly affecting citizens' daily lives, particularly within the Greek public health system.
She highlighted problems with patient access to oncology medication and raised specific concerns about scheduled operations at Agios Savvas, a major public cancer hospital in Athens.
According to Akrita, 12 surgeries were scheduled at the hospital for September, but only four will take place. She noted that no alternative arrangements had been made for the remaining eight women whose operations were postponed.
