ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek lawmakers are fuming over colleagues who openly flout the country’s anti-smoking laws in the very building where the statutes were passed.
A cross-party group of 88 representatives wrote to the Parliament speaker Thursday urging action against what they call a “pathetic and infuriating” state of affairs.
Greece has one of the European Union’s highest smoking rates. It introduced a strict law in 2010 to outlaw smoking in enclosed public areas. Violators face €50-€500 ($68-$680) fines.
It was the third anti-smoking law passed in recent years, but has met with no noticeable success: People still light up freely in bars, cafes, restaurants — and Parliament.
The lawmakers wrote that, apart from assembly halls, at times there is “not a single square meter” in Parliament where the law isn’t broken.
