The impact of consent on ND 

A wave of concern is prevailing within ND since the initial agreement for the creation of a coalition government.
“The first phase went well, Papandreou resigned as we had asked. Now we must focus on the second phase” said an ND member. ND has made it clear from the start that they are talking about a short-term government with a very specific mission.

Reportedly, the request for elections “immediately” after the implementation of the agreement of October 27 belongs to Samaras. However, the new prime minister and government officials remain to be determined, as well as which exactly the extent of the new government’s powers will be, which will determine its duration as well.

ND has not clarified whether its own members, or those from other opposition parties, will take part. After meeting with Papoulias, Samaras called a meeting with Chrysanthos Lazaridis, Dimitris Stamatis and Christos Staikouras, and then met with government officials.

A clash of emotions dominates the centre of ND. Supporters of consent argue that Samaras’ compromise was inevitable. The two vice presidents are among them, along with Stavros Dimas, Chrysanthos Lazaridis, Aris Spiliotopoulos and more. An ND member said “we could not allow the country to be destroyed and put its European position in jeopardy. Besides, the people wanted such a development.”

On the other hand, there are those members who argue that “Samaras dragged himself into a coalition government which he had dismissed until Friday night”. They express their concern that the price will be too high. According to them, due to the pressure both from the inside and the outside of the country, Samaras is abandoning the anti-memorandum policy which he had held up as a banner so far and which had kept the party alive. Meanwhile, they say he will be forced to become partly responsible as long as he is supporting the coalition government in terms of implementing the measures and the ones yet to be taken. A party official said that “this development will place us opposite the dissatisfied voters, who will be pushed towards the parties of the Left, which have already separated their position by refusing to take part in the meeting chaired by the President of the Republic”.