Controversial MP Polakis expelled from SYRIZA’s parliamentary group

Controversial SYRIZA MP Pavlos Polakis was expelled from the party’s parliamentary group on Thursday by opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis following an incident in parliament.

“On the recommendation of party leader Stefanos Kasselakis, Pavlos Polakis is expelled from the SYRIZA-PS parliamentary group by the leader of the parliamentary group, Sokratis Famellos,” SYRIZA stated in a release.

The expulsion came after Polakis verbally attacked an aide to Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis during a parliamentary debate on the government’s psychiatric care bill. Polakis criticized the aide’s facial expressions, describing them as condescending.

The remarks sparked backlash from several MPs, including fellow SYRIZA member Athina Linou, who condemned the behavior as unacceptable.

In response to the incident, government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis criticized Polakis for losing all sense of decency and urged Kasselakis to expel him.

Over the years, there have been numerous calls, both from within and outside SYRIZA, for the party leadership to expel Polakis due to his controversial statements.