Giorgos takes back the referendum proposal

During  the cabinet meeting on Thursday afternoon, PM Mr. George Papandreou proceeded to an analysis of data which seems to allow more room for a cancellation of the referendum.

He stressed that regardless of what might be asked in the referendum, the only way to avoid elections would be if Mr. Papandreou responded to MPs requesting an urgent coalition government, stating that this government is one of national salvation, and that until today he has been seeking consensus.

Moreover, he welcomed the stance of the President of the New Democracy party, Mr. Antonis Samaras, who decided to support the loan agreement, and added that discussions are ongoing with Mr. Samaras to find common ground for the common national interest.

After the cabinet meeting, Minister for Administrative Reform Mr. Dimitris Reppas and the Director of the Office of the Prime Minister Mr. Nikos Athanassakis visited the offices of New Democracy, where they will meet with ND President, Mr. Antonis Samaras.

Nomenclature

This is at a time when the name of the current governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr. George Provopoulos, was already being heard as likely to be put in place as a transitional Prime Minister - after a possible agreement between PASOK and ND or a coalition government - until elections take place.

For some, Mr. Provopoulos is considered the favourite, but there is also Lucas Papademos in the picture, former Vice President of the ECB and former governor of the Bank of Greece.

ND representative Yiannis Michelakis explained that  Samaras’ proposal for a national unity government related to forming a government which will be composed of the political cadres of PASOK and ND.

Today’s appointment between Papandreou – Papoulias is not confirmed by the Presidency of the Republic. As individual sources stated to protothema.gr, Mr. Papandreou has not requested a meeting with the President.

The misinformation on this meeting by Mr. Reppas was the cause for a mini-clash between the Minister of Electronic Governance and an aide to the PM who had initially announced the meeting.

Meanwhile, in Parliament, there are always rumours about potential names of political persons who could lead a coalition government. According to information by Yiannis Antypas, PASOK officials state that one transitional government leader could be former Parliament President, Mr. Apostolos Kaklamanis.

So far, obviously, no one can confirm if Mr. Papandreou’s proposal to Mr. Samaras about a coalition means that the two leaders have agreed upon that point.