–Demand By Antonis Samaras Ends Any Hope Of A Coalition Government
CANNES, France (MNI) – The leader of Greece’s main opposition
party, Antonis Samaras, has ended any possibility for a coalition
government with the ruling Socialist party, saying that Prime Minister
George Papandreou was flatly blackmailing Greek political parties and
citizens with his idea of holding a referendum.
Samaras, who heads the conservative New Democracy party, also said
that under current circumstances he could not consent to a joint
coalition government, and he demanded that Papandreou resign immediately
and announce early elections.
“The country needs early elections within the next 6 weeks, because
this government and Prime Minister Papandreou have lost their
credibility both in and outside the country,” Samaras said in remarks to
Parliament.
Just a few hours ago, Papandreou said that he was willing to cancel
the referendum because New Democracy had agreed to support the new
bailout plan.
Samaras, who up until last week was refusing to approve the new
lending agreement, changed his stance and said that while he won’t agree
to a coalition government, he now thinks that the new rescue package is
important for Greece.
“I said it this morning and I’m repeating it. I am standing by my
commitment to approve the new plan,” Samaras told lawmakers. He added
that an E8 billion loan tranche for Greece, which has been suspended
amid the uncertainty created by the referendum furor, is “very important
for the country.”
He went on to say that what he was rejecting were “certain fiscal
measures that have failed” but which the current government insisted on
implementing.
“I want to change these measures and of course I will first
negotiate it with the EU partners,” Samaras said.
New Democracy’s party members are expected to walk out of
tomorrow’s parliamentary vote of confidence on the Papandreou
government.
–Angelika Papamiltiadou, a_papamiltiadou@hotmail.com
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