High-ranking members of New Democracy met yesterday to discuss how to ensure unity in the party’s parliamentary group, which has a fragile majority of two seats, following a series of stinging comments from former Public Order Minister Vyron Polydoras.

ND secretary Lefteris Zagoritis headed the meeting, which was also attended by the parliamentary group’s secretary, Yiannis Tragakis. It was made clear that the 152 conservative MPs had to work together to protect the government’s majority.

ND has become more concerned about its majority following strong comments by Polydoras, who argued that he had been sacrificed by Prime Minister Costas Karmanlis and made a scapegoat for the failings within his ministry.

The former minister insisted he had no intention of voting against the government in Parliament.