In a shocking turn of events, a member of the Greek parliament has been suspended for 15 days following a physical altercation with a colleague during a debate session. The incident, which took place just outside the debate chamber, was witnessed by several fellow lawmakers.
Parliamentary Speaker Constantine Tassoulas has announced that he intends to pursue criminal charges against the unnamed lawmaker who allegedly punched his colleague. Tassoulas emphasized that parliamentary immunity does not extend to felonies, and therefore the perpetrator could face serious legal consequences.
Tassoulas has directed the parliament's police department to escort the lawmaker in question to the prosecuting authorities to ensure swift action is taken. The altercation has sparked outrage among members of the parliament and the public, with many condemning the violent behavior as unacceptable in a democratic setting.
The incident comes at a critical time as Greece's Supreme Court is set to release a list of political parties eligible to participate in the upcoming European Parliament election on June 9. The court is currently reviewing a petition filed by three political parties to exclude the far-right Spartans party due to alleged connections with the extremist Golden Dawn organization.
Golden Dawn's top members were previously convicted and imprisoned in 2020 for their involvement in a criminal network. The ongoing scrutiny of political parties underscores the importance of upholding democratic values and ensuring that all participants in the electoral process adhere to the rule of law.
