Draft bill upgrading F-16s and Mirage airplanes voted in Parliament

The upgrade of F-16s and Mirage airplanes draft bill was voted by the Parliament plenary on Friday night, on ruling New Democracy, the Movement for Change (KINAL) and Greek Solution votes.

Main opposition SYRIZA and MeRa25 voted "present", and the Communist Party voting against it.

Defending the draft bill, National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos called on MPs to vote for it because it improves the deterrent abilities of F-16s, and allows all Mirage airplanes provide protection to the entire Aegean Sea and the Hellenic Navy to procure the necessary spare parts.

The draft bill also included other provisions, including the institution of the new national coordinator for the migration/refugee position, which was voted by the ruling party and rejected by all opposition parties.