members of Greek Parliament voted in favor of the privatization bill on Wednesday, while the article about the merger of journalists’ insurance fund with national health care EOPYY has been rejected.
It looks as if some 15 PASOK MPs did not follow the party line on voting. The party had decided to vote NO or just present for the journalists’ amendment.
The Privatizations bill opens the way for the privatization of major state-run companies like electricity, water and lottery and 12 ports across the country.
“Article 2 of the privatizations bill lifts the minimum percentage of Greek state in Public Power Company (PPC/DEH), Greek Petroleum Co (ELPE), Lottary (OPAP), Water Companies (EYDAP & EUATH), Greek Post (ELTA), ODIE, Port Organisations of Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Volos, Elefsina, Igoumenitsa, Irakleio, Kavala, Corfu, Lavrio, Patras and Rafina.”
Odd enough the leaders of the three-party coalition government did not vote at all.
Samaras (Nea Dimocratia) and Kouvelis (Democratic Left) were absent, while Venizelos (PASOK) was in the parliament but did not attend the voting!
The journalist amendment was voted: 143 YES, 136 NO.
The voting was decided on the majority of present MPs who were 293 today.
Journalists’ amendment would most likely return to Parliament for voting on a later point, as Finance Minister tried to pass it last night without previously informing the members of the parliament.
Journalists went on 24-hour strike today and threatening with rolling strikes should the merger take place.
UPDATE: Also Article 2 did not pass the voting, despite the fact that acting parliament speaker had announced it had. the artciel had received 146 votes, bit it needed …146.5! The article was referring to scrap a 2% fee contribution by construction works in favor of Technical Chamber of Greece.
