Zoe Konstantopoulou

Greek State Minister, and Alexis Tsipras’s close associate, Alekos Flambouraris promised SYRIZA would not call new elections, even if the party was forced to form a coalition government. Speaking to Greek TV, Flambouraris deemed the collaboration with the right Independent Greeks (ANEL) party in the coalition government a success. ‘We would like to have the absolute majority in parliament.

“Just a wrong choice” was the laconic response by close aides to PM Alexis Tsipras, referring to brash Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou, hours after the latter launched a full-blown political attack against her now former SYRIZA comrade, and the man who nominated her for the post.

Combative Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou on Saturday mostly confirmed her split from radical leftist SYRIZA, the ruling party in the moribund coalition Greek government, during a meeting with Panagiotis Lafazanis, who has emerged as the leader of an anti-bailout and far-left party from the SYRIZA breakup.

Political developments with the commensurate statements by high-profile lawmakers continued on Friday, a day after PM Alexis Tsipras tendered his resignation and decision to hold snap elections.

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A Facebook group whose singular demand is to oust combative Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou now numbers more than 40,000 members.

The FB page was created to push deputies in Greece’s 300-MP Parliament to “institutionally react by immediately submitting a no-confidence vote” against!

The looming split in ruling SYRIZA party over a third bailout plan for Greece was also exacerbated by the outright rebellion of brash Parliament president Zoe Konstantopoulou, yet days before Parliament was abruptly reopened to pass the agreement — in the face of Konstantopoulou’s determined opposition — the latter enjoyed the Grecian sun, sand and surf with her husband in northern Evia.

Greece’s Parliament passed a draft law approving terms for a third bailout memorandum on Friday morning by a margin of 222 in favor to 64 against, after an all-night debate in the legislature confirmed an acrimonious division within the ruling SYRIZA party over the 11th-hour agreement.

Eleven MPs abstained, declaring themselves “present”.

Pressure on Greek Parliament Speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou is mounting after right wing party AN.EL spokesperson Marina Chrysoveloni called on her to resign from her post. Speaking to Greek radio station Real fm, Chrysoveloni said Konstantopoulou should facilitate matters and step down as speaker of parliament, while commenting on the agreement she explained it was a compromise.

A new Facebook group now numbering more than 30,000 members wants deputies in Greece’s 300-MP Parliament to “institutionally react by immediately submitting a no-confidence vote” against combative Parliament President Zoe Konstantopoulou!