House panel for Novartis probe halted by leftist MPs

A parliamentary committee tasked with probing possible political interference in the Novartis investigation was forced to cancel a planned session on Thursday after two leftist SYRIZA MPs who had been barred from the panel turned up and refused to leave. 

Leftist MPs Pavlos Polakis and Dimitris Tzanakopoulos insisted on joining the panel even though the majority had previously decided to exempt them from the proceedings on the grounds that the two lawmakers are witnesses in the investigation and this poses a conflict of interests. 

Spyros Lappas, another SYRIZA MP on the panel, called for their reinstatement, describing their removal as "groundless, unconstitutional" and a violation of parliamentary regulations. 

Tzanakopoulos reportedly said he was present at the panel at the request of SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras and referred to an "unconstitutional and coup...