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Ban on politicians carrying guns in parliament

22 May 2013 / 14:05:58  GRReporter
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New Democracy’s representative Fotini Pipili insists on mandatory control through metal detectors for all members of the Greek parliament in order for armed deputies not to be allowed to attend the meetings of the National Assembly. She sent a letter to the chairman of the National Assembly after it was found that some of the deputies of the parliamentary group of Golden Dawn were armed while they were in the plenary hall.

"I insist on a full and unequivocal ban on deputies carrying guns in parliament. The very opportunity that is given to the representatives of the people to carry guns in the temple of democracy offends the institution. Moreover, no- one in parliament is in any danger such as requires him to be armed. On the contrary, due to the extremes which we have seen lately, I think that parliament itself is in danger," Pipili states in a letter to the presiding body.
 
Under the current law, all visitors and deputies are required to pass through the metal detectors that are installed at every entrance of the building. However, to date, some armed deputies have been walking around the corridors of parliament which is bothering their colleagues. The provision allows only the guards of the prime minister and ministers and the bodyguards of the leaders of the parliamentary groups to be armed. For everyone else, the law (2168/1993) stipulates that they should legally submit their guns at the entrance of the parliament, which are recorded in a special register and the owner of the gun can get it back upon leaving the National Assembly. Clearly, this rule has not been observed.

The majority of deputies in the Greek parliament support Fotini Pipili’s appeal, but according to the chairman of the parliament Vangrlis Maymarakis, a formal complaint that a particular armed deputy is wandering in the National Assembly has not yet been made.The high spirits in the National Assembly and the increasingly frequent harsh verbal clashes between Golden Dawn and other members of parliament are causing concerns. Chekhov's dramaturgy principle that, if there is a loaded gun (rifle) in the first act on stage it must shoot in the second act, is taken from real life. Pipili’s letter comes to prevent another drama in modern Greek history, which has been filled with a variety of incidents in recent years.

The majority of deputies in the Greek parliament support Fotini Pipili’s appeal, but according to the chairman of the parliament Vangelis Maymarakis, a formal complaint that a particular armed deputy is wandering around the National Assembly has not yet been made. Nevertheless, Maymarakis has ordered that all those who enter the parliament building, including the Prime Minister and representatives of the Cabinet, must pass through the metal detectors.

In less than a year, the representatives of Golden Dawn have shown that patience and creative dialogue are not their strong qualities in politics. We all remember how while he was on air, the party spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris threw a glass of water at the deputy of SYRIZA Rena Dourou and then beat the representative of the Greek Communist Party Liana Kanelli. This year, around Easter, deputy George Germenis had also demonstrated his temper. He tried to hit the mayor of the capital Geroge Kaminis but his fist hit a child aged 12. According to the video and Kaminis’ testimony, Germenis had reached for his gun, but mayor's guards averted a more serious incident. The sequence of developments, however, suggests that Pipili’s concerns are not groundless. Maybe it is just a matter of time before the aggression in Greek politics escalates and leads to irreversible consequences.

Tags: PoliticsArmed deputiesGreeceGolden Dawn
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