Parliament on Friday passed an amendment suspending the submission of asylum applications by individuals arriving in Greece illegally by boat from North Africa, with 177 votes in favour. The amendment also provided that these individuals will be returned, without being registered, to their country of origin or provenance. The measure will be in effect for three months, unless cut short by an Act of Cabinet.
The amendment was passed in a roll-call vote, at the request of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), and was passed with 177 votes in favour, out of a total of 293 MPs who were present. There were also 74 votes against and 42 abstentions.