By Angelika Papamiltiadou
ATHENS (MNI) – Greece’s prime minister said he will be visiting the
president of the republic tomorrow, to inform him of his decision to
form a coalition government of a broader consensus, hinting that he will
be stepping down after he wins the confidence vote in parliament.
Papandreou did not name his successor who will carry on the
negotiations for the new bailout plan with the EU and the IMF, but
rumours say he will suggest current vice president and finance minister
Evangelos Venizelos.
However, it is not clear whether the main opposition conservative
party, New Democracy , will agree with such choice. Its MPs left the
room during Papandreou’s speech and are expected to return in time for
the vote.
“The new government must secure the sixth tranche and the new
lending agreement. I have listened to the calls of the opposition for
elections within the next 6 weeks. But elections now would be
catastrophic for the country,” Papandreou said.
He added that if elections would take place, all negotiations,
including the sixth tranche will freeze and the country would get into
severe trouble. Instead, he suggested a coalition government will
continue negotiations and said that elections could take place after the
agreement of Oct 27 is secured.
He hinted, thus, that elections should take place in spring, as the
roadmap says that negotiations for the PSI could go on until February
2012.
“After we finalize the agreement the people should be called to
decide on it,” the Greek prime minister said.
He insisted that the new bailout plan must also be approved by
super majority, meaning 180 out of the 300 lawmakers.
Papandreou also appealed to the EU leaders and asked them to trust
the Greek people who can survive all hardships and insisted that the
country will regain its credibility.
–Angelika Papamiltiadou, a_papamiltiadou@hotmail.com
** Market News International Athens **
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