George points toward staying in PASOK

Papandreou explained that the policy pursued by the previous government and the fact that "we were hit by the establishment made a lot of people furious and wanting to overthrow me, saying that if Papandreou leaves, we will calm down. They should know that Papademos’ government was our choice to continue these policies. And those who believed that the government will be at their disposal will face the whole PASOK PG. We will preserve this course and I would like to think that Samaras will do the same." 

The PASOK president hinted that there should be an extension for this government and that the country should not be dragged to elections: "Let us give sufficient time for institutional and political changes that can be better promoted. Nobody knows where Europe will find itself. It will overcome the crisis but we will have a hard time. It would be bad for the parliament to be closed and for election pressure to be put on MPs and ministers. Investments will not come with one party or the other but with a lot of teamwork. This is the work this government must continue and we must put national interest above petty political ones." 

Papandreou explained the difficult circumstances under which he was called upon to govern the country in 2009, saying he had "a mandate to change the country but made a daily effort to keep the country from sinking. I took office at a difficult time and they told me I was unlucky but it was my honor to fight for the salvation of my country." He claimed that during the two years of government, the opposition kept undermining him, and also referred to the events of October 28. "I thought the Greek people were mature enough to decide ignoring the elite or TV "windows" and send a message to the rest of Europe, who doubted our resolve and called us national traitors for the decision of October 26, and to ND that said that it will be negative on the decision of the 26th. As if by magic, all that changed with the referendum. I am pleased that the final result was the coalition government." 

Finally, he brought harsh criticism against the conservative policies adopted by the leadership of the Eurozone, saying, "no one listened when I was talking about a gun pointing at the markets and now some are saying that we need heavy weapons."