ATHENS — A bill by Interior Minister Makis Voridis which lifts restrictions for the registration of Greeks abroad in special lists of foreign voters was tabled in parliament on Monday.

The bill adjusts two major standing criteria: duration of one's stay in Greek territory and submission of tax returns.

Additionally, the Interior Ministry’s elections directorate will be deciding on approvals and rejections of applications for registration in foreign voters’ lists.

Moreover, the bill abolishes the intra-party committee which was looking into application rejection appeals, among other tasks.

"FIREWORKS"

The Interior Ministry's "fireworks" regarding the voting of Greeks abroad aims only to "twist reality and misguide diaspora Greeks," said in a joint statement SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance MPs Giorgos Katrougalos, Theodora Tzakri and Kostas Zachariadis, released on Monday.

It was SYRIZA who set up a legislative committee so as to facilitate the voting of Greeks abroad, said the party MPs.

Furthermore, it was SYRIZA who submitted a specific proposal for revising the constitution to that effect, they added.