Today is another crucial day for Greece. The debate on the vote of confidence on the socialist government, asked by Premier G. Papandreou himself, will come to a conclusion at midnight, but the outcome is highly uncertain after the political development of the past 24 hours. Once again, the country as back at the centre of attention of its European partners and creditors. Inside the parliamentary group of the ruling Pasok party anger and disappointment are spreading regarding the Prime Minister’s most recent initiatives. The position statements that were made yesterday by many socialist MPs make it unclear whether the government will get its vote of confidence. Today the meetings between MPs of the government party and members of parliament of the two largest parties, Pasok and Nea Dimocratia – the main opposition party (centre-right) – continue frenetically.
Antonis Samaras, leader of Nea Dimocratia, said last night in parliament during the debate on the confidence vote that he had asked several time for the resignation of Papandreou as a condition ”sine qua non” for the formation of a transitional government that should take the country to early elections within six weeks. A technical government, able to approve the Greek bailout deal with its European partners. Samaras also pointed out that he had been against the referendum from the start, because, in his words, it is ”very dangerous” for the country. He accused Papandreou of ”risking to destroy Greece, Europe and the euro.” After the speech of Samaras, the Nea Dimocratia MPs left the parliament, where they will return this evening for the confidence vote on the government.
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