Christos Zois launches new center-right political party

Former New Democracy and Independent Greeks MP Christos Zois was elected the head of a new center-right party, Nea Mera (New Day), on Saturday.

Zois was first elected as a lawmaker with New Democracy in 2000 before switching over to Panos Kammenos’s party last year.

In his first speech as party leader, Zois proposed scrapping income tax for workers and pensioners who earn less than 33,000 euros a year.

He said such a move would immediately boost demand and help the Greek economy out of recession.

He also called on Germany to declare before federal elections in September that it was committed to making Greek debt-sustainable.

Zois also voiced his opposition to the closure of state broadcaster ERT, which he declared the “only legal station in Greece.”

Two more lawmakers, Nikos Stavroyiannis and Yiannis Kourakos have joined Nea Mera.