The 300 newly elected members of the Greek parliament sworn in today, taking three different types of oaths. In particular, there was a religious oath in compliance with the Orthodox canon, another one with the Muslim canon, and finally a civil oath, selected by Alexis Tsipras and the majority of SYRIZA MPs, and by the Greek Communist Party (KKE).
The meeting was opened by oldest MP Yiannis Tragakis who read the Presidential Decree on Parliament and the letters by which those party leaders who are entitled to run in two constituencies specify the constituency that they will represent.
Subsequently Archbishop Ieronymos performed the consecrating ceremony and some of the MPs took an oath before him. It should be noted that Ieronymos did not turn to any of the parties, as had previously happened. The archbishop wished the MPs unity, wisdom and spirit of dedication.
Only Hussein Zeybek of the three Muslim members of SYRIZA took an oath on the Quran whereas Mustafa Mustafa and Ayhan Kara Yusuf took a civil oath.
The members of SYRIZA, Potami and the Communist Party took a civil oath. Prime Minister and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras and General Secretary of the Communist Party Dimitris Koutsoubas had sent a letter with a similar request.
An interesting point during the first session of the new Parliament was the arrangement of MPs from different parties in the hall. For the first time in its history, PASOK occupied the endmost seats. The first two front wings from right to left were occupied by New Democracy, the two subsequent wings (in the middle and to the left) by SYRIZA and the Communist Party occupied the last left wing.
Neo-Nazi Golden Dawn occupied the far right seats and the members of New Democracy the adjacent two wings. The members of Independent Greeks were in the centre, PASOK was to the left of them and Potami party was to the left of PASOK. The rear seats were occupied by more members of SYRIZA.
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