Protestors block PACE MPs in restaurant on Corfu

A group of protestors on the island of Corfu blocked off 60 Greek and foreign parliamentarians in a restaurant late Wednesday where the Greek parliament was hosting a dinner for the participants in a regular meeting of the Council of Europe’s (CoE) parliamentary assembly (PACE) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population is taking place.
The demonstrators, protesting against the government’s harsh austerity measures, gathered outside Dimarchiou Square on Wednesday evening, and when they learned that the parliamentarians were in the restaurant of the local Yacht Club, they headed to the site to continue their protests, but were stopped from approaching the restaurant when the iron gate at the entrance of the site closed.

The demonstrators remained outside the gate, shouting slogans, while a few individuals threw stones.
The MPs finally left the restaurant at 1:00 a.m., on a caique, under a discrete police presence.

Among the Greek MPs were deputy employment minister Anna Dalara, parliament vice-president Rodoula Zissi, ruling PASOK MPs Dinos Vrettos and Angela Gerekou, and main opposition New Democracy (ND) parliamentary spokesman Nikos Dendias.

Government condemns Corfu incident against deputies

Government spokesman George Petalotis strongly condemned on Thursday the incident on the island of Corfu on Wednesday night, stressing that the Parliamentary system in the country cannot be intimidated.

The incident had occurred when a group of protestors blocked off 60 Greek and foreign parliamentarians in a restaurant late on Wednesday where the Greek parliament was hosting a dinner for the participants in a regular meeting of the Council of Europe’s (CoE) parliamentary assembly (PACE) Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population.

“What took place in Corfu, a Committee of Greek deputies convening with European deputies members of the Immigration Committee, that means human rights and European deputies being stoned, I think is anything but a simple expression of the anxiety and concern of citizens. We must clarify here that a different ‘game’ is now developing,” the spokesman said.