ATHENS – Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has moved to remove New Democracy lawmaker Marios Salmas from his Parliament seat for criticizing the government over bids for catering services for the Culture and Health ministries.

Salmas has previously taken issue with the Conservative government, irking Mitsotakis, who – while in New York for the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly – demanded Salmas be ejected.

The Premier has the authority to remove him but sent a letter to lawmaker Ioannis Tragakis, President of the party’s disciplinary commission, insisting that Salmas has to go for his criticisms.

Salmas had earlier upset Mitsotakis after the disappointing showing in the June European Parliament elections by saying the premier “is serving the few instead of the many” but kept his seat.

Now, however, he has gone too far for Mitsotakis in accusing the government of manipulating bids after the premier earlier said that he “would not tolerate any innuendo,” with Greek lawmakers being told how to vote.

Salmas also had voted against the same-sex marriage measure that Mitsotakis pushed and was voted into law and the critical lawmaker also said the government was allowing collection agencies to hound debtors for repayment of bad loans sold off by banks, many unable to do so.

Salmas is due to be expelled by the party’s Code of Conduct commission which will reduce New Democracy’s majority in the 300-member Parliament to 156, down two seats after former minister Lefteris Avgenakis was booted after video footage showed him berating an airport employee.

Salmas, 56, a doctor, has been with New Democracy since 2000 and was a deputy health minister briefly in 2009 and alternate health minister  in 2012-13 but had become a thorn in Mitsotakis’ side.