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Greek Political Tragedy after failure of talks on unity government

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Politics

Greece stood at the edge of a deep cliff for several hours today and Greeks were literally stunned to hear that the Prime Minister will continue his path and the much criticized economic policy with a new cabinet. After several hours of talks on the formation of a unity government between the government and the main opposition party, George Papandreou stepped back from his own proposal amid violent clashes and rain of tear gas in downtown Athens.

Earlier Wednesday, Prime Minister George Papandreou offered AntonisSamaras, leader of centre-right party Nea Dimokratia, to form together a so called ‘national salvation government’.

Samaras accepted with two major conditions: a) renegotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding and Mid-Term Austerity Package and b) a Prime Minister of common acceptance but not Papandreou.

A further condition of Samaras was that the new government would serve only for 6 months, as no ‘unity’ or ‘salvation government’ normally can serve for 2 years – that would be 2013.

Initially Papandreou accepted Samaras’ conditions. However, later the PM stunned the Greeks when he announced in a televised speech that he will continue his way, will reshuffle the government tomorrow and seek a vote of confidence in the parliament as soon as possible.

“Despite my own attitude, the opposition managed the whole effort in communicative terms rather than in terms of political and national responsibility. Before we even discussed the matter, conditions were made public that  can not be accepted, because they would keep the country into prolonged instability and introversion, while the major national issue is to tackle the debt,” Papandreou said in his speech to the nation.

“Let’s all assume the responsibilities of our actions in the country. I will continue the same path, the path of duty, along with the Parliamentary Group of PASOK, the executives and the Greek people. Tomorrow I will reshuffle the government and soon I will ask a vote of confidence from the parliament. It’s time for responsibility “he concluded.

Apparently the problem was the proposal of Nea Dimokratia to have elections in a couple of months. Greek state TV reported that Papandreou called ND-leader Samaras short before his televised speech and told him that this condition creates for him (Papandreou) problems within his party. “Some other time, maybe” Papandreou reportedly told Samaras.

Late in the evening, Antonis Samaras said in a statement that “The question is now whether Papandreou can govern. If he can, it was a mistake to ask our support. If he can’t, then he must go for elections. The country cannot remain in uncertainty. The society is boiling.”

The reations of all political parties are very strong and they all demand elections now arguing that Papandreou’s proposal for a unity government showed that he is not capable of governing, that he admitted , he was not able to tackle the problems of the country, economical and social.

They speak of a total wreck of the Greek political Titanic.

Some political analysts and active politicians claim that it were the close aides of PM who persuade him to stay in power.

Now the scenarios focus on the new cabinet and whether Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou will remain in his office. The far-right party said that the new government will only be a caretaker one.