ATHENS – Needing a two-thirds vote instead of a simple majority, the ruling New Democracy is hoping to garner enough support from rival parties to approve a bill giving voting rights to the Diaspora when it goes to Parliament, set for December 11.
Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos said that the government has done all it can to secure a broad majority for the legislation. Approval requires support from 200 of the 300 lawmakers and New Democracy has 158, needing at least 42 more votes for passage.
He told SKAI TV that New Democracy has tried to convince its rivals that with pressure building from Turkey over who controls the seas between them that support is needed more than ever to show unity.
Based on comments from rivals, the bill is expected to get the necessary 200 votes although the major opposition Radical Left SYRIZA that was ousted by New Democracy in July 7 snap elections and the Communist Party (KKE) don’t back some provisions and the tiny new MeRA25 party of former SYRIZA finance chief Yanis Varourakis said it will vote against but its nine votes are irrelevant to the issue.
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