Kouvelis indicates a universal government with Tsipras' participation

The tweet in which Mr. Fotis Kouvelis appears to refuse the position of PM, based on a proposal which is bound to be submitted by Evangelos Venizelos and will be supported by PASOK and ND, is not true.

Through the official - at least as far as we have known for months - Twitter of the party, the Democratic Left has given a clear position, stating that Mr. Kouvelis will not accept the proposal. People from within the party state that it is not an official tweet, while in an official announcement the party attacks SYRIZA and allows room for participation in developments that will prevent repeat elections.

According to information on protothema.gr, during the afternoon meeting with Evangelos Venizelos, president of the Democratic Left Fotis Kouvelis will insist on the formation of a universal government with the presence of SYRIZA.

According to relevant information, within the context of the third exploratory mandate that was handed to the PASOK President, Mr. Kouvelis will clarify that the participation of SYRIZA is a prerequisite for his own involvement, since otherwise the government created would make no sense and would not be viable.

However, Mr. Kouvelis’ colleagues note that “nothing is over… everything is open”, expressing their hope that “any objections and reservations will eventually be overcome”.

It should be noted that yesterday, protothema.gr had imparted that Evangelos Venizelos intends to submit a proposal to set up a government of national unity under Fotis Kouvelis with the support of PASOK and ND.

It is noteworthy that the ASE general index has reacted with earnings exceeding 2%, with financiers, however, thinking that the outcome is perfectly reasonable after the recent drop of the last three days.

SYRIZA executives’ statements are contradictory, however, according to the Democratic Left in a statement issued at 2pm on Thursday, in which it points out the insistence on the termination of the loan agreement, which makes policy consultation difficult and qualifies as a possible revival of the two-party system in future elections.

In particular, the communique of the Democratic Left notes:

“Within the exploratory mandate framework, the SYRIZA leadership did not seize the opportunity of a government solution. The SYRIZA leadership, with itstactics, threatens to send the country to new elections, potentially leading to the revival of the two-party system and a conservative shift.

The contradictory statements by officials on the Greek economy, the insistence on the termination of the loan agreement, which is a credit event and will constitute a break from the Eurozone, make political cooperation difficult. The wording of maximalist positions cancels out any solution. The SYRIZA leadership is policy-setting with a view to new elections.

The Democratic Left insists firmly on a realistic direction of the gradual disengagement from the memorandum through tough renegotiation with the lenders and our continued commitment that the country stays within the euro”.

On his part, SYRIZA MP Papadimoulis, on his Twitter, states that the sudden attack by the Democratic Left against SYRIZA, two days after Kouvelis' “yes” to our proposals, brings concern. “What does this change in attitude mean?” he asked.