'New interim government will secure debt deal'
Source: Agencies |
November 10, 2011, Thursday
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GREECE'S outgoing Prime Minister George Papandreou said last night that an agreement had been reached with the opposition on the creation of an interim government that will secure the country's new debt deal.
The two main parties, Papandreou's Socialists and the opposition conservatives, led by Antonis Samaras, have spent three days in intense power-sharing negotiations.
"Today the main political forces are joining together, to guarantee to Greece's citizens that in the following months we will do whatever is necessary not only to secure the country's position in the euro and implement the debt deal decisions ... but also to make use of its great benefits," the 59-year-old Papandreou said in a televised address.
He then headed to a meeting with the country's president, where he was expected to formally resign.
Papandreou wished the next prime minister well, but gave no indication of who it would be.
"Today, despite our political and social differences, we are setting aside the sterile conflicts. A government of political forces is taking over that goes beyond parties and personal biases," Papandreou said.
There has been intense speculation in recent days as to who will take over from Papandreou, but the outgoing premier offered only vague hints as to who it might be.
"It was clear that to achieve this effort we would have to agree on a person who would unite us and would be supported by all of us," he said. "I believe the choice we have made is in line with the institutions and will boost the democratic institutions."
Former European Central Bank Vice President Lucas Papademos has been widely tipped as the strongest candidate for interim prime minister. But by yesterday afternoon another strong candidate had emerged - current Parliament speaker and former justice and public order minister Philippos Petsalnikos.
The two main parties, Papandreou's Socialists and the opposition conservatives, led by Antonis Samaras, have spent three days in intense power-sharing negotiations.
"Today the main political forces are joining together, to guarantee to Greece's citizens that in the following months we will do whatever is necessary not only to secure the country's position in the euro and implement the debt deal decisions ... but also to make use of its great benefits," the 59-year-old Papandreou said in a televised address.
He then headed to a meeting with the country's president, where he was expected to formally resign.
Papandreou wished the next prime minister well, but gave no indication of who it would be.
"Today, despite our political and social differences, we are setting aside the sterile conflicts. A government of political forces is taking over that goes beyond parties and personal biases," Papandreou said.
There has been intense speculation in recent days as to who will take over from Papandreou, but the outgoing premier offered only vague hints as to who it might be.
"It was clear that to achieve this effort we would have to agree on a person who would unite us and would be supported by all of us," he said. "I believe the choice we have made is in line with the institutions and will boost the democratic institutions."
Former European Central Bank Vice President Lucas Papademos has been widely tipped as the strongest candidate for interim prime minister. But by yesterday afternoon another strong candidate had emerged - current Parliament speaker and former justice and public order minister Philippos Petsalnikos.
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