«ND must accept its responsibilities»

PM Giorgos Papandreou stressed the need for all political powers to accept their responsibilities ahead of the EU summit, during the meeting with Antonis Samaras earlier today at Maximou.

Papandreou, in his own words, asked for support of the national effort he is making. In this meeting with Samaras, he stressed among other things: «We respect the different approaches of political parties. This is why today’s meetings aim at ensuring understanding and support of the national effort ahead of the EU summit. Accountability is needed from all political powers. We, on our part, are determined to argue that the only solution is the package-solution. Anything else is not a solution. And it is upon this basis that I will give the fight».

After Antonis Samaras, Papandreou will meet with general secretary of KKE Aleka Papariga at 2.15pm , with LAOS president Giorgos Karatzaferis at 3.30pm , with SYRIZA PG president Alexis Tsipras at 4.45pm, with the president of Democratic Alliance Dora Bakogianni at 6pm and with the president of the Democratic Left Fotis Kouvelis at 7pm.

The PM has undertaken these meetings in preparation for the European battle starting tomorrow, with his visit in Paris for a meeting with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, while on Friday he will attend the special Eurozone summit.

However, his main concern is to improve the political climate inside the country before it evolves into a heavy burden for the government effort.

Papandreou is actually hoping to reduce the intensity of the reactions and to ensure an open or silent support and the tolerance of some forces, in order to mitigate social protests. In any case, he wants to show to the public that he is not alone and also that his opponents have no standing when pursuing extreme policies.

In other words, he expects sympathy from Dora Bakogianni and Giorgos Karatzaferis – they have supported the memorandum policy in various ways – but also from the moderate Fotis Kouvelis, to demonstrate that he has an audience in other political forces and is not isolated in his attempt.

He expects Antonis Samaras to speak moderately and express his supportive views for the Greek attempt, as he mentions in his international meetings.

He is expected to be stricter with Aleka Papariga and Alexis Tsipras and warn them that the tactic of escalating social tension can be fatal to the Greek effort, while leveling criticism pushes citizens outside the political system, to which they also belong.