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The meeting of New Democracy's parliamentary group has finished. Opinions swung in favour of the agreement and the draft Memorandum, and an en bloc vote during the plenary session in the house tonight.

During the parliamentary group meeting, which started at 9 a.m., some MPs from provincial regions expressed concerns over the increase in taxes for farmers. Others proposed to abstain, while some appealed that everybody vote as per their individual conscience.

Openly in favour of an abstention vote were three MPs – Marios Salmas, Anna Michelle Asimakopoulou and Adonis Georgiadis. They however promised to comply with the majority.

Dimitris Kiriazidis was of the same mind, and fiercely criticized the government for the measures included in the agreement with the creditors.

Three other MPs – Alexandros Kondos, Athanasios Davakis and Stefanos Gikas – suggested that every MP listen to his/her own conscience.

However, the group's parliamentary speaker, Evangelos Meimarakis, and some others from the party emphasised that today the party is voting for keeping Greece in Europe. It was reminded that the farming question is not included in the measures to be voted on.

"This is a critical moment, a moment of vindication for New Democracy, which at various stages lived up to a high political standard, told people the truth and fought to keep Greece on the road to Europe", said Dora Bakoyannis to the meeting.