Samaras Asks Deputy Minister To Resign Following Remark About Kassidiaris (VIDEOS)

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has asked for Deputy Education Minister George Stylios to resign on Thursday following a controversial remark that was made against Greek Communist Party MP Liana Kanelli.

Provoked by Kanelli in Parliament, Stylios said:

      "Ms Kanelli is trying to turn me into Kasidiaris but she won't succeed."

The (now) former minister was referring to the slapping of Kanelli by Golden Dawn spokesman Elias Kassidiaris on live television in 2012.

The government did what it had to do, Kanelli said commenting on Samaras' decision to call for Stylios' resignation.

Before the premier's announcement, Stylios had apologized to Kanelli.

     "Tensions can lead to verbal exaggerations. Obviously I did not want to insult Ms Kanelli and I apologize to her. The reference to Kassidiaris' name and his behavior, which I condemn, was a mistake," he said.

Main opposition SYRIZA party condemned Stylios' attack against Kanelli.

     "The fact that government officials refer to Golden Dawn's violence is a huge insult to Democracy," the party said in a statement before Samaras called for Stylios' resignation. It added that this kind of behavior could not be tolerated and no ‘apology' could excuse it. 

WATCH HOW MRS. KANELLI PROVOKES STYLIOS, BY CONTINUALLY INTERRUPTING HIM WHILE HE WAS SPEAKING AND PRESENTING HIS STATEMENT, DOES SHE OR DOES SHE NOT DESERVE A KASSIDIARIS?

THE CONTROVERSIAL SLAP IN 2012, AGAIN MRS. KANELLI PROVOKES THE SCENE WITH HER CONSTANT BICKERING AND INTERRUPTIONS, AS WELL AS HER ADA CITY TO SLAP KASSIDIARIS FIRST WITH HER NEWSPAPER