File photo. [InTime News]
The New Left parliamentary group was formally dissolved Thursday after a series of defections reduced its representation below the minimum threshold required for recognition in Parliament.
Parliament was informed that six lawmakers had left the party’s parliamentary group on Tuesday, prompting First Deputy Speaker Giannis Plakiotakis to announce that New Left no longer qualified as a parliamentary group under the legislature’s rules.
The number of parliamentary groups in the 300-seat legislature has consequently fallen to seven from eight: New Democracy, PASOK, SYRIZA, the Greek Communist Party Greek Solution, Niki and Course of Freedom.
The departing lawmakers increase the number of independents to 39. That number is expected to reach 40 after New Left’s Effie Achtsioglou relinquishes her seat. Her replacement on SYRIZA’s June 2023 election list, former deputy prime minister Giannis Dragasakis, is also expected to sit as an independent.
