The parliamentary committee of inquiry into the Pavlidis affair failed to agree on Wednesday on whether the former minister should stand trial in a bribery scandal, leaving parliament to resolve the case in a vote that could trigger an early election.

While the New Democracy parliamentarians said there was no evidence to justify lifting his immunity, the parliamentarians from all four opposition parties said he should be tried.

The 13 committee members delivered their findings to Parliament Speaker Dimitris Siouflias yesterday after three weeks of probing allegations by shipowner Fotis Manousis that the former minister for the Aegean, Aristotelis Pavlidis, demanded bribes for a state-subsidized contract to run ferries to remote islands.

The decision is now up to the 300-seat parliament, where the ruling New Democracy has 151 deputies.

The Greek Parliament will vote on Monday on the removal of political immunity for Pavlidis.

The seven New Democracy parliamentarians said the investigation had not uncovered any evidence that suggested the ex-minister broke the law.

They argued that Manousis was not a reliable witness and that he had changed his story several times.

They also pointed out that between 2004 and 2007, when Pavlidis was minister, he issued 37 tenders for nonprofitable routes and Manousis was awarded 12 of those contracts.

However three PASOK MPs who said that there was enough evidence to indict Pavlidis on charges of instigating the blackmail of Manousis, receiving a bribe, money laundering, breach of faith and breach of duty.

The Communist Party, the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) and the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) also recommended that Pavlidis appear before a special court.

The government would not lose its majority immediately if Pavlides is sent to court but could decide to call snap elections to avoid further tarnishing its image by relying on a deputy on trial to govern.

‘I think that next week we will know if we will have double elections on June 7 or not,’ said Theodoros Livanios, from Opinion polling agency. ‘There are a number of New Democracy MPs very keen to vote against Mr Pavlides.’

The test to the government comes as it has embarked on unpopular tax and wage measures to cope with the economic crisis.