3-hour session to decide to … open Parliament

Yet another more-or-less procedural session in Parliament, this time during a committee-level vote on Wednesday to reconvene the legislature after its summer hiatus, turned into a parody, with brash Parliament President exchanging insults and accusations with representatives of political parties – including her own!

“One institution must respect the other,” was her own indirect snipe against PM Alexis Tsipras, who nominated her for the post months ago.

Ruling SYRIZA rapporteur Nikos Filis again responded by “advising” Konstantopoulou to resign.

Other “highlights” included quips about torture, … bullying, use of tablets and even the Amphipolis archaeological site.

The session, shown live on Parliament’s television station, would have been a midsummer’s comedy relief if it weren’t for the urgency of the moment, given that the government wants to ratify a third bailout memorandum as soon as possible, while critics charge that the anti-memorandum Konstantopoulou is using every loophole and arcane procedural rule to delay the vote.

She has nevertheless responded at every turn that such an important piece of legislation will not be “railroaded” through Parliament with cursory debate and examination.

Beyond the acrimonious atmosphere was the assessment that relations between the government and Konstantopoulou, also a ruling SYRIZA MP, are at a breaking point.

Several opposition MPs reiterated a call for a “no confidence” vote against her.