MP Marios Salmas ousted from New Democracy over critical remarks

The secretary of New Democracy’s political committee, Maria Syrengela, announced the expulsion of MP Marios Salmas from the ruling party on Monday, just hours after his removal from New Democracy’s parliamentary group.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis requested Salmas’ expulsion over the weekend, following the MP’s accusations that the government had manipulated tenders for catering services at the ministries of culture and health.

In response, Salmas issued a statement calling his expulsion “unacceptable,” claiming the prime minister wanted to make an example of him. He added that MPs have a constitutional right to criticize the government.

This was not the first time Salmas clashed with the party leadership. In June, he accused Mitsotakis of “serving the few instead of the many” during a parliamentary group meeting. Mitsotakis responded sharply, warning he would “not tolerate any insinuations.”