Greek lawmakers clashed in the Hellenic Parliament after ruling party New Democracy decided not to support SYRIZA lawmaker Elena Akrita for fifth deputy speaker.
The dispute broke out during a plenary session in Athens when opposition leaders challenged the government majority over its refusal to endorse the nomination. SYRIZA selected Akrita to fill the vacant seat in the parliamentary bureau following the departure of Olga Gerovasili from the party's parliamentary group and her subsequent resignation from the presidium.
Sources from New Democracy, the ruling center-right party led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, made clear that government lawmakers will not vote in favor of Akrita's candidacy. The position of fifth deputy speaker is customarily allocated to opposition parties under parliamentary procedures.
Accusations of Party Line Exclusion
Zoe Konstantopoulou, leader of the opposition party Course of Freedom, repeatedly raised the issue during the session and called on government officials to declare their position. She accused Prime Minister Mitsotakis of being personally behind the decision, claiming there was an explicit political line to exclude Akrita from entering the presidium.
Konstantopoulou also introduced a gender dimension to the row, warning that if Akrita is not elected, the bureau of the 300-seat assembly will be left without any female representation. She stated that maintaining an all-male parliamentary presidency constituted a provocation, linking her argument to ongoing public discussions regarding gender-based violence.
Clash Over Female Representation
Tension in the chamber reached a peak when Konstantopoulou directly challenged Alternate Health Minister Irini Agapidaki to take a personal position on the matter. Agapidaki delivered a sharp rebuttal on behalf of the government bench.
Agapidaki reminded the chamber that when Course of Freedom had the opportunity to nominate a parliamentary vice president, Konstantopoulou selected male lawmaker Michalis Hourdakis. She noted that Konstantopoulou chose Hourdakis despite having four female lawmakers in her party who could have been put forward for the post.
Agapidaki remarked that it was rich for Konstantopoulou to present herself in Parliament as a champion of women's rights, a comment that sparked a fresh wave of reactions from the Course of Freedom leader.
Opposition Support and Institutional Practice
Konstantopoulou had previously confirmed that Course of Freedom would vote in favor of Akrita, stating that the SYRIZA MP could serve in the presidium position with dignity.
The opposition PASOK party has also decided to vote for Akrita's nomination in opposition to the ruling majority. Officials at PASOK headquarters on Harilaou Trikoupi street pointed to recent institutional precedent, noting that SYRIZA lawmakers previously backed the election of PASOK MP Paris Koukoulopoulos to a deputy speaker slot assigned to their party.
What began as a routine procedural replacement following Gerovasili's resignation has transformed into a wider political battleground. With New Democracy maintaining its veto and opposition parties rallying behind institutional norms, lawmakers are preparing for a vote that carries broader political and gender implications for the Greek parliament.
