«Yes to everything for the rescue of the country»

The ND President will sign a letter to European leaders tomorrow, whereby he will commit not to deviate from the provisions of the memorandum, either now or after the elections.

As a member of the party said, Samaras already sent a letter with commitments in November last year, and "bled" in order to pass the second memorandum, losing a quarter of his parliamentary power, so the signature he is now being asked for is a minor issue. The retreat on the issue of pensions will be more difficult. Following yesterday's cabinet meeting, ND’s position is that the government is authorized to discuss locating approximately 300 million euros, even from pensions, always predicated on the protection of low-income pensioners. But ND is retracting its position regarding the issue of increasing objective values​​. Eventually, the only thing that Samaras won in the negotiations were the 13th and 14th salary, an issue that the Troika and the IMF say entered the picture only for impression's sake and would have been withdrawn later. Besides, they will be cut with Samaras' consent in the next installment of austerity measures. Once Samaras ascertained that Germany will let Greece default, he became prepared to do anything for Greece to stay in the euro, even if he does not succeed, in order to avoid blame later on.

But the issue of elections remains open, since the Europeans require an extension of Papademos’ government to commence the implementations. Anna Diamantopoulou raised the issue with the cabinet on the grounds that a series of processes must ensue that can extend the mandate of the government from ten months to the end of its term. It is interesting that Samaras' two vice-chairmen did not say anything, nor reiterated the position of their leader that the elections will take place on April 8. Either they have distanced themselves from their leader, or Samaras is violating his own last red line under the pressure of circumstances.

Intra-party processes

Meanwhile, processes in ND are still ongoing. Samaras filled the vacancies from the latest departures by recruiting Vangelis Meimarakis and Apostolos Kontos. Obviously Meimarakis will be reactivated in the place of the Interior Head of Sector responsible for the elections, filling the gaps left by party secretary Andreas Lykourentzos and PG secretary Kostas Tasoulas. As Head of Sector he will be responsible and liable for the elections. Results were immediately visible with the "repentance statements" by 9 out of the 21 who voted against and were expelled, and now say they were "misled". The misled are blaming Kostas Markopoulos, Manolis Kefaloyiannis, Christos Zois and George Vlahos as pioneers of the movement. Of course they have received assurances that if they declare their repentance early on, they will be included in the ND ballots. The rest, however, are moving in accord with Panos Kammenos towards the creation of a new political body that with the initial anti-memorandum positions of ND, will claim a good share in the elections.

Yiannis Manolis is moving in the same direction, resigning yesterday with a harsh statement declaring that Samaras abandoned his positions. Several members of the organized trade union wing of the ND are following suit.

There is also the scenario that before the election Samaras will appear as a leader who is uniting the fragmented conservative party, including Dora Bakoyannis' party, always for the good of the country. Of course, Karamanlis is always in the background, and his lobbying actions are helping ND maintain its present levels.