New Democracy

New Democracy MP Gerasimos Giakoumatos (photo) launched an outspoken attack on the government and Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias in particular on Wednesday as he fought to prevent his parliamentary immunity being lifted in connection to a tax offense allegedly committed at a retirement home run by his wife and brother.

With European and local authority elections looming, the political exchanges between co-ruling New Democracy and the main leftist opposition SYRIZA have intensified even as a new party casting itself as anti-establishment appears to be drawing support from both parties, according to opinion polls.

Stavros Theodorakis, who has given up journalism to lead a new political party, To Potami, launched his campaign for the European Parliament elections over the weekend with opinion polls showing his movement performing much better than expected.

The government was pondering on Friday how to correct a mistake in Parliament that saw a bill passed on Thursday even though it had not received the majority of the votes.

The government is to lift restrictions on MPs standing as candidates in the European Parliament elections though MPs of co-ruling New Democracy will have to quit their seats before running as MEPs, Interior Minister Yiannis Michelakis said on Monday.