Replying on behalf of main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, ND spokesperson Sofia Zacharaki rejected Thursday's invitation by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras that they face each other in a televised debate ahead of the European elections on May 26.
In reply to SYRIZA spokesperson Rania Svigou's letter, which extended the Greek premier's invitation, Zacharaki said that "Mitsotakis has already answered SYRIZA's repeated call [for a televised debate], announcing his censure motion against Pavlos Polakis for his vulgar aspersions against Stelios Kympouropoulos." She also pointed out that "Tsipras' decision to turn the censure motion into a vote of confidence in his government, in fear of Polakis' condemnation by even SYRIZA deputies, effectively gives the parliamentary session in question "the characters of a three-way debate that covers all issues." 
Alternate Health Minister Pavlos Polakis recently publicly denounced a paraplegic New Democracy European Parliament candidate for having been hired as a National Health Service doctor under an affirmative action process that favours applicants with a disability.
In reaction, ND tabled a motion of no-confidence against Polakis, which was then converted into a confidence vote in the government by PM Tsipras.