The majority in Greek Parliament is currently 149, following the decision by the Electoral Court to expel three deputies of the Spartiates party, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told Skai radio on Tuesday.

Citing parliamentary rules, he said that "votes are not based on a majority of the current deputies, but on a majority of all deputies", therefore the majority now is 149 (from 151). He noted that the three vacant seats are not being replaced by party runners-up in elections, explaining that "obviously, the decision is overall related to the party's operation, including the party leader and the remaining deputies." If the motion had included the other Spartiates deputies, they would have lost their seats as well. (Prior to the decision by the Electoral Court, the party had 5 deputies out of a total 300.)

The government, Marinakis added, has a consolidated strong majority, which is unprecedented for a second-term government, and ruling New Democracy's bar is the totality of its deputies.

Marinakis was also asked among others to comment on the possibility that former prime ministers Alexis Tsipras might found a new party. Speaking of Tsipras, he said that he has a right to do so as former prime minister and as any citizen does. "But the fact that someone returns does not mean that he returns with a different identity or other features, or, at any rate, it does not mean we have forgotten what has happened. The issue is to admit your mistakes," he said.