Greek parliament approves private foreign universities, bucking protests
Greece’s parliament approved a bill allowing foreign private universities to establish branches in the country, despite student protests. The legislation passed with 159 votes in the 300-seat parliament. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis argued that the move would counter the trend of Greek students studying abroad and align Greece with European Union standards, enhancing competition in higher education. The bill is part of broader government reforms, including a recent same-sex marriage law. It also promises increased funding for state universities. Protests against the bill included a significant rally outside parliament, with some incidents of violence reported.