A proposal for Kouvelis as PM

An offer to Mr. Fotis Kouvelis to become the head of a government of national unity is due to be submitted by head of PASOK Evangelos Venizelos.

In the “guarantees” that Mr. Venizelos is expected to offer is included the provision that Mr. Kouvelis - if he accepts- will be able to form the governing council, which will be led by persons chosen by himself. Information indicates that this proposal only refers to the need for the creation of a small and flexible cabinet, consisting of about 15 ministers.

PASOK and ND will reiterate their commitment to vote for the bills that the Kouvelis government proposes.

Despite the fact that the chairman of the Democratic Left, speaking on Wednesday on Real FM, rejected the possibility of becoming PM, stating that “it is a scenario without any basis” and adding that “no one of us can partake in a government where there is no programmatic agreement and the second most popular party, ie SYRIZA, is not part of it”, the chances of forming a government with Kouvelis as PM are increasing.

Executives of the Democratic Left are stating that this option could take form under specific conditions, especially if the party’s position of a renewed Left and a differentiation and change of the memorandum’s policies are put into effect, in order to make it milder and promote a growth perspective that will help Greece exit the vicious cycle of recession.

The proposal to Mr. Kouvelis to lead a coalition government of cooperation with PASOK’s and ND’s support should be formalized institutionally by Mr. Venizelos as soon as the PASOK president receives the exploratory mandate from the President to form a government.

Secure information confirms that Mr. Venizelos proposed to Mr. Tsipras the formation of a limited government of national unity with a leftist PM and a vote of tolerance by PASOK and ND.

The view existing in PASOK and ND is that the situation of the Greek economy is worsening, Europeans seek the establishment of a stable and responsible government and the situation poses the risk that we will not have time to prevent repeated elections.

It is unknown whether Mr. Samaras will accept Mr. Venizelos’ proposal. However, it is certain that the ND president is considering supporting the initiative that wants Mr. Kouvelis to become PM, essentially to provide a “blank cheque" to the chairman of the Democratic Left to form a government and renegotiate to improve the memorandum.