Greece’s PM Tsipras faces another confidence vote as multiple elections loom
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras faces another confidence vote in parliament today. As was also the case with the vote on January 16, it has been brought on by the prime minister.
Centre-right opposition New Democracy has accused Deputy Health Minister Pavlos Polakis of suggesting a wheelchair-bound ND politician used his disability to get a job in the state health sector. New Democracy originally submitted a censure motion, but the government has raised the stakes by replacing the motion with a vote of confidence instead, which it is widely expected to survive.
Greek politics is currently highly charged ahead of local and regional elections, as well as European elections—all of which will be held on May 26. National elections will be held later this year in October. The confidence vote, while centring on Mr Polakis’s comment, will be a greater referendum on the governance of Mr Tsipras, particularly the effectiveness of his economic policies.
Opinion polls have the leftist government trailing New Democracy. Mr Tsipras hopes a small victory in surviving the confidence vote, combined with promises of tax cuts and benefits to low-income pensioners, will be enough to keep his government in power following national elections this autumn.
Delve deeper: 2019 forecast: Tspiras’ tough re-election battle
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