Government of personalities is the new bet

The meeting on Monday began with the President proposing a government of personalities with an anti-memorandum PM from the Left, confirming the story that protothema.gr had broadcast earlier.

Antonis Samaras agreed, stating that the personalities must be politicians. A green light was given by Evangelos Venizelos. Fotis Kouvelis again provided for the participation of SYRIZA. Thus, the PASOK president proposed to Mr. Papoulias that he should call a new meeting involving other leftist parties. Mr. Antonis Samaras responded positively and requested an invitation to the Independent Greeks party. Therefore,the country will have another chance to avoid political instability.

Actual margins of the formation of a government, however, are minimal. Everything indicates that on Tuesday the pressures will peak from all sides, since the issue is fo such a government to be supported by at least four parties.

The meeting on Monday:

The meeting of political leaders under President Karolos Papoulias at the presidential palace lasted less than an hour.

Antonis Samaras, Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis did not reach a conclusion. The President of the Republic called all leaders, except Nikos Michaloliakos, to a new meeting on Tuesday at 14:00 at the Presidential palace, with SYRIZA responding positively to the invitation to participate, since it concerns all political leaders and is not selective, like today’s.

Shortly after the meeting,outside the offices of Syngrou Blvd, Antonis Samaras stated that he asked Karolos Papoulias that the proposal submitted by the president of Independent Greeks be explored, which was based on a coalition government with seven priorities, including the accounting investigation of the debt.

He reiterated that the involvement of SYRIZA in such a development is necessary.

On his part, in statements from PASOK HQ, Mr. Venizelos stated that “we support, as a last resort, a government of personalities”.

However, he identified a minimum government support of such an effort by ND, SYRIZA, PASOK and DIMAR.

He said that he is not optimistic and underlined that there must be a new meeting on Tuesday since all parties are responsible.

At the same time, after the meeting the president of the Democratic Left underlined that “a government of technocrat personalities would be a defeat”; however, as he said, such a government should include SYRIZA.

“What is needed is an ecumenical government. The Democratic Left remains stable in its views”, repeated Fotis Kouvelis.