Lefteris Avgenakis has been reinstated as a member of the New Democracy party.
In a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the reinstatement of the MP for Heraklion, Crete, five months after his expulsion.
Avgenakis was removed from the party this July after video footage surfaced online showing him accosting an employee at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens. The Federation of Airport Workers’ Unions alleged that Avgenakis, en route from Athens to Crete, confronted staff because he missed his flight, allegedly striking one with his mobile phone, causing them to collapse at the ticket counter, and prompting airport personnel to summon police assistance.
There were also allegations that Avgenakis mentioned his status as a PM, shouting “Don’t touch me, I have immunity.”
In a statement at the time, Avgenakis had described the prime minister’s decision as “completely respectful”, but had clarified that he would keep his seat in parliament, remaining a member of parliament for Heraklion.
Since his expulsion Avgenakis has held the New Democracy party line, and voted in favor of every New Democracy bill that has been tabled, including the recently passed budget. In fact, last week, during Mitsotakis’ visit to Crete, he accompanied the Prime Minister on his tour of the island.
This leaves New Democracy with 156 seats in parliaments, with all the other parties far behind. There are almost two dozen MPs who have left or been removed from their party since the 2023 elections.
