Political options narrow
Calls for Prime Minister George Papandreou to form a national unity government, as well as reports alleging that he is preparing to do just that and then to step down from his role have been rebuffed by the government.
Spokesman Ilias Mossialos flatly rejected the idea that Papandreou is considering quitting or is seeking to form a coalition with other parties despite concern within ruling PASOK that the Socialists are committing political suicide by adopting unpopular austerity measures without the support of anyone else in Parliament.
In a statement on Saturday, Mossialos criticized media reports over the weekend that suggested Papandreou was set to make a fresh attempt at forming a coalition after his failed effort this summer.
?Even if they are products of people?s imagination, they are unacceptable and bear no relation at all to reality,? he said, adding that the claims ?undermine political stability, the country?s smooth progress and threaten political and social stability.?
However, sources told Sunday?s Kathimerini that PASOK deputies are pressuring the prime minister to seek a coalition deal with New Democracy in particular as they fear that the center-left party?s ratings are taking such damaging hits that it may take it many years to recover.
In a newspaper interview over the weekend, Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou said that she was in favor of all avenues being explored in order to find some consensus with opposition parties.
Former New Democracy MP Elsa Papadimitriou, who quit the conservatives to become an independent when she voted for the midterm fiscal plan, told Sunday?s Kathimerini that President Karolos Papoulias should use his powers to form a government of national unity. She suggested that the former vice president of the European Central Bank, Lucas Papademos, should be made prime minister with Papandreou taking over the role of foreign minister.
However, the one option that top government officials appear to be against is for the prime minister to call snap elections. Sources said that Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who is due to resume talks with troika representatives today after a meeting yesterday, has clearly state his opposition to the idea. In an interview with the Proto Thema newspaper, Transport Minister Yiannis Ragousis said calling early elections would be a ?historic crime against the country.?
