Papandreou seeks a way out

Following the postponement of PASOK’s political council, the meeting of the party’s parliamentary group responsible for employment is also heading the same way.

Intense debate exists within the government as to how to deal with Parliament member reactions. Indicative of the general situation were the words of a leading minister, who commented that “this is no time for an employment parliamentary group meeting”.

Thus, rumors have flared up of an immediate convening of the parliamentary group meeting of PASOK, even as soon as tomorrow, while it is also possible that some other form of surprise will become known mid-week. The Prime Minister has been meeting with close associates since midday, including Mr. Petros Efthymiou.

Mr. Papandreou met with several ministers in the morning. He convened with Education Minister Anna Diamantopoulou, Finance Minister Giorgos Papakonstantinou, Defence Minister Evangelos Venizelos, Minister of Development Michalis Chrysochoidis and Minister of Maritime Trade Giannis Diamantidis.

The submission of the medium-term plan is long overdue so procedures cannot be held back further.

The medium-term plan must be voted on before the EU summit. This gives the government less than one month to discuss, submit and vote on the plan. According to government sources, the prime minister will seek consensus until the last minute.