Crucial meeting in Parliament

Another step towards the establishment of a government is being taken at this time at the ND offices in Parliament, where representatives of ND, PASOK and DIMAR are meeting in order to shape the political context of the new government scheme.

The talks involved Vangelis Meimarakis, Chrisanthos Lazaridis from ND, Dimitris Hatzisokratis and Sakis Papathanasiou from DIMAR and Kostas Skandalides and Stelios Angeloudis from PASOK, who arrived at the House after a delay of approximately one hour.

The representatives of three sides will attempt to draft the text of the framework agreement for the work of the new government, while there will be no discussion of the persons to be deployed therein.

According to an associate of Mr. Samaras', among the points of agreement the most likely ones are:

- Reduction of the VAT within this summer
- Corporate tax reduction
- Direct drafting of a new tax bill which will also be discussed during the first cabinet meeting.
- Topics to address illegal immigration

- Security issues and tackling crime
- No further reduction in wages

However, on the part of ND it is estimated that there will not be an agreement for the lifting of the Act which reduced the minimum wage or restore the aftereffect.

In addition, the first draft text will be ready today in order for the three political leaders to have it in their hands or make necessary corrections, and they will try to prepare it so that representatives of DIMAR can have time to present it to the meeting of their central committee.

Within this framework, most believe that the official announcements for the formation of a new government will take place no later than noon tomorrow.

The leaders of three parties want to present a political framework that is convincing for the Greek economy and their own party officials. There seems to be no disagreement as to the persons who will staff the government.

Mr. Samaras, who will be the PM, will appoint the backbone of the government. ND wants the ministries of Finance, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Public Order, Justice, Interior, Development, Tourism and Marine Affairs. The initial debate has been concluded and people who incite reactions in other parties will be avoided. E.g. ND will not include people such as Makis Voridis or Maria Repousi from DIMAR. Their intention is to finalize a limited government body, with 15 ministers and 20 deputy ministers.

At the end of the process, it remains to be seen whether the three leaders will meet under the President. The whole process will be combined with complaints against SYRIZA “who refuse to take responsibility in this critical situation for the country”.

The DIMAR central committee will convene for a final decision on government participation, and the PASOK Parliamentary Group will also meet tomorrow. In discussions with MPs earlier this afternoon, however, Evangelos Venizelos clarified that there will be no MPs from PASOK in the new government and that he will not be deputy PM.