Parliament speaker balks at bill for coffee and cookies

Parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis has asked for more information about how the House spent almost 17,000 euros on coffee, bottled water and cookies between the end of October and the beginning of January.

The outlay was revealed after Parliament published the 13 invoices for the food and beverages on its website. The publication led to criticism from commentators, which is believed to have annoyed Meimarakis, currently on an official visit to Armenia.

Parliament has often come under the spotlight during the crisis because large amounts of taxpayers’ money are spent on its employees and expenses.

The coffee and cookies, which cost 16,753 euros, were provided during meetings involving the parliamentary speaker, deputy speakers and for people who took part in committee hearings. However, during the period in question Parliament also held a number of events that were part of Greece’s European Union presidency.