Μake us preferred on Google A parliamentary debate over legislation concerning overdue loans and borrower protections opened with a confrontation Wednesday, after Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis called for a roll call vote on 18 provisions of the bill and an accompanying amendment.
Opposition parties accused the government of political maneuvering, challenging both the substance of the proposed measures and the decision to withdraw a disputed provision.
Pierrakakis, who took the floor at the start of the session, described the roll call vote as a “test of consistency” for opposition lawmakers, who have criticized the government’s handling of private debt and the activities of loan servicing companies.
“We’ve been listening to you criticize loan servicers for days, talk about protecting borrowers, accuse us and claim a monopoly on social sensitivity,” he told parliament. The minister and Eurogroup President then went on to say that lawmakers should make clear through their votes which measures they supported.
Opposition Questions Borrower Protections
Christos Giannoulis of the opposition SYRIZA party challenged Pierrakakis to include three additional provisions, Articles 22, 24 and 30, in the roll call vote. Giannoulis argued that the articles would restrict the Bank of Greece’s oversight of loan servicing companies, which manage debts on behalf of banks and investment funds. “Do you have the courage to add Articles 22, 24 and 30?” he asked. He also referred to the case of an elderly couple in Thessaloniki, who he said were at risk of losing their home to eviction.
Nikos Karathanasopoulos of the Communist Party (KKE) accused the government of political grandstanding and dismissed the proposed legislation as a series of minor measures. He argued that struggling households needed debt relief and stronger protections against losing their primary home.
Withdrawn Provision Sparks Further Dispute
The withdrawal of Article 23 prompted further questions from opposition lawmakers, who challenged the government’s handling of provisions concerning investment funds. Konstantinos Chitas of far-right popoulist party Elliniki Lysi asked why the government had decided to withdraw the article. “If it’s so good, why are you withdrawing it?” he asked. Chitas also argued that Article 23 was connected to Article 27 and called for the entire section of the bill concerning investment funds to be withdrawn.
Alexandros Kazamias of Plefsi Eleftherias also pressed the government to clarify whether Article 23 had been withdrawn. He criticized the ministry for submitting an amendment at the last minute and questioned why loan servicing companies had not attended the parliamentary committee hearings on the bill.
Both lawmakers accused the government of using procedural tactics during the legislative debate.
Minister Agrees to Expand Roll Call Vote
Pierrakakis subsequently accepted SYRIZA’s challenge, asking New Democracy lawmaker Notis Mitarakis to add Articles 22, 24 and 30 to the request for a roll call vote. He maintained that the legislation benefited borrowers and reiterated his demand that lawmakers publicly state their positions.
“Every ‘yes’ and ‘no’ will have a name attached to it, and every ‘present’ is an evasion that will not be forgotten,” he said.
New Democracy lawmaker Lefteris Avgenakis, the governing party’s rapporteur on the bill, defended the withdrawal of Article 23 in its entirety. He also challenged opposition lawmakers to say whether they intended to support the legislation.
