Dendias’ Armed Forces Bill: ND Votes Yes – Opposition and Friendly Fire Shake Parliament

_The Ministry of National Defense’s “New Era” bill for the Armed Forces was approved in Parliament only by ND, while facing sharp criticism from opposition parties and even some friendly MPs, putting Minister Nikos Dendias in a rare difficult position.

Dendias stated: “We will not turn the Armed Forces into a state-owned enterprise of the 1980s. Our goal is upgrading, not downgrading the role of non-commissioned officers. You want automatic promotions without evaluation—this is devaluation!”

 Fierce Debate and Political Undercurrents

Former Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos called for further improvements, stressing that political leadership must remain closely aligned with personnel interests.

• He expressed concern over removal of critical ranks, which could worsen career progression for non-commissioned officers.
• He urged transitional provisions to prevent personnel from pursuing legal action.

Similar concerns came from MPs Tasos Dimotschakis and Thanasis Kavvadas, proposing:

• Additional ranks for specific non-commissioned officer cohorts.
• Possibility of extra ranks for officers who hold higher education degrees.

The opposition — SYRIZA and PASOK — voted against the bill, arguing it harms career prospects and rights of personnel.

Political and Parapolitical Dimensions

The approval only by ND demonstrates party discipline, while dissent from some friendly MPs highlights:

• Internal party tensions over management of military leadership.
• Pressure from personnel, especially on pay and rank progression issues.
• Behind-the-scenes political implications, intensified by incidents like the confrontation with Zoe Konstantopoulou in Parliament, reflecting the ongoing scrutiny of parliamentary conduct.

ND parliamentary spokesman Dimitris Kairidis emphasized that ministers are present to inform, but MPs have the first say, noting that despite tensions, the government remains united.

Strategic and Political Issues

• Dendias stressed that ND takes responsibility for past mistakes, unlike SYRIZA and PASOK.
• The bill is presented as a necessary reform to modernize the Armed Forces.
• While technically a defense measure, the bill acquires political significance, as each clause and vote are interpreted in light of internal and external political pressures.

Through this vote, the government seeks to demonstrate unity, decisiveness, and control over key national security issues, while the opposition tries to leverage dissent for political gain.

The Dendias Armed Forces Bill reflects the government’s efforts to control strategic decisions while managing internal and societal pushback.The combination of intra-party disagreements, personnel reactions, and public clashes with opposition MPs makes implementation politically sensitive. The transitional measures and adjustments that follow will likely shape the political and military climate in Greece in the coming months.

Source: pagenews.gr