PM’s request to postpone Saudi defense deal discussion causes furor
Opposition New Democracy on Wednesday reacted angrily to a request by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to postpone a House debate scheduled the following day on a controversial defense deal with Saudi Arabia.
Tsipras, according to sources, wants to be present for Defense Minister Panos Kammenos’s response to accusations from the opposition that the deal with Saudi Arabia for missiles and bombs was not conducted transparently. But the Greek prime minister is expected in France on Thursday, where he will receive the award for Political Courage from the magazine Politique Internationale. He is also scheduled to speak at the Paris Bar Association, which has awarded him the prize for European Engagement.
New Democracy accused Tsipras showing signs of panic by delaying the discussion.
“The panic that has gripped Mr Kammenos appears to have been transmitted to Mr Tsipras, who has remained oddly quite for the past 17 days in regards to the scandal in which his ruling partner is implicated,” the conservative party said in an announcement on Wednesday.
“New Democracy will not accept a second postponement to the rebuttal in Parliament and asks that Mr Voutsis do his duty… If Mr Tsipras wants to defend his co-leader then he can schedule his own discussion in Parliament whenever he wishes. After all, the subject will not be laid to rest tomorrow,” ND said.