MPs ratify contentious TV license bill with narrow majority

Coalition partners SYRIZA and Independent Greeks, with the support of independent lawmaker Nikos Nikolopoulos, garnered a slim majority of 154 votes in the 300-seat House Friday to ratify a contentious bill concerning television licensing regulations.

All 102 of the New Democracy, PASOK, Potami and Union of Centrists MPs rejected the bill, while 30 lawmakers were absent from the vote and the remainder voted “present.”

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis slammed the bill, which restricts the number of licenses that will be put to tender to four.

“You are choosing the path of authoritarian practices, which alienate the country from the European principles of justice,” he told the MPs.

The government has also been accused of taking over responsibility of the tender process.