Main opposition PASOK expels lawmaker, reduces parliamentary representation to 32 seats

Greece’s main opposition PASOK party has expelled a lawmaker over controversial remarks, reducing its parliamentary representation to 32 seats out of 300 total. The Socialist party announced Monday that it had ejected Lesvos representative Panayiotis Paraskevaidis following what it described as his “constant unacceptable statements.”

The PASOK expulsion came after Paraskevaidis was quoted suggesting the party should be willing to cooperate “even with a dictatorial regime” if the alternative meant Greece would be left without a functioning government. The statement sparked immediate backlash within the party and led to swift disciplinary action from PASOK leadership.

Political Context Behind the PASOK Expulsion

The controversial remarks touch on a sensitive issue in Greek politics as opinion polls indicate a potential hung parliament scenario. According to current surveys, the governing center-right New Democracy party would likely win any immediate election against left, populist, communist and far-right opponents. However, the polls suggest ND would fall short of securing a sufficient majority to govern alone.

This political landscape has intensified scrutiny on PASOK’s potential role in future coalition negotiations. The party has consistently avoided signaling whether it would support New Democracy in forming either a coalition or minority government, even if it possessed enough parliamentary seats to enable such an arrangement.

Shifting Parliamentary Composition

Following the expulsion, Parliament’s composition has shifted notably. Independent lawmakers now comprise the third-largest parliamentary group with 27 seats, trailing only New Democracy’s 156 seats and PASOK’s reduced count of 32. Meanwhile, leftist SYRIZA holds 25 seats in the current configuration.

Additionally, the growing number of independent lawmakers reflects broader fragmentation within Greek politics. The increase in parliamentarians without party affiliation suggests ongoing tensions within established political movements and potential instability in party discipline across the political spectrum.

Implications for Greece’s Political Future

The reduction in PASOK seats further complicates the arithmetic of potential coalition building in Greece. With the party already reluctant to commit to supporting New Democracy, losing another seat diminishes its leverage in any future governmental negotiations. Political analysts note that this development may force other parties to reconsider their coalition strategies.

However, the expulsion also demonstrates PASOK’s willingness to enforce party discipline, even at the cost of parliamentary representation. The swift action against Paraskevaidis signals that party leadership prioritizes maintaining democratic principles and party unity over numerical strength in Parliament. In contrast to more pragmatic approaches that might tolerate controversial statements for the sake of maintaining seats, PASOK chose to draw a clear line.

The reference to cooperation with authoritarian governance proved particularly toxic given Greece’s history with military dictatorship from 1967 to 1974. Greek political culture remains deeply sensitive to any suggestion of compromising democratic values, making Paraskevaidis’s remarks especially damaging within the context of PASOK’s socialist and pro-democracy tradition.

Looking Ahead

Greece’s next parliamentary elections are not required until 2027, though Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis retains the constitutional authority to call early elections. Whether the current parliamentary fragmentation and PASOK’s reduced presence will influence the timing of any potential snap election remains uncertain, as party leaders have not indicated any immediate plans for electoral reconfiguration.