Controversial MP readmitted to SYRIZA’s parliamentary group 

Lawmaker Pavlos Polakis on Tuesday was readmitted to the leftist main opposition party’s parliamentary group, less than six weeks after he was expelled by SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis following an incident in parliament.

The news was announced by the parliamentary group’s new head, Nikos Pappas, following a recommendation by Kasselakis, in a letter to the House Speaker. 

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. The MP for Chania criticized the aide’s facial expressions, describing them as condescending.

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

Over the years, there have been numerous calls, both from within and outside SYRIZA, for the party leadership to expel the MP due his attacks on friend and foe alike.