A roll call vote will take place in Parliament at 1pm on Thursday for a bill on the conditions and procedures for the acquisition of Greek citizenship, at the request of main opposition party New Democracy.
The bill has proven to be rather controversial, since the junior coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL) have rejected the bill, aside from the conservative New Democracy and the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn. Should the bill ultimately be rejected, as it initially was on Wednesday, the coalition government’s majority in Parliament could be in jeopardy.
The Independent Greeks reportedly object to the first article of the bill, which refers to the naturalization of underage first generation migrants born in Greece. According to ANEL speaker Nikos Mavraganis, while the bill is necessary on grounds of humanism, he noted that certain provisions are concerning, such one which allows the minister in charge to define the documents required for the naturalization process.
Although PASOK intends to vote in favor of the bill, the party’s parliamentary group secretary Leonidas Grigorakos argued that it cannot pass thanks to the opposition’s support and claimed that the government’s majority may be challenged. New Democracy MP Adonis Georgiadis stressed that either the bill goes through with the support of SYRIZA and ANEL, or it will not be approved.
