Stefanopoulos intervenes on elections issue - The Best from Greece

In one of his few public interventions, Kostis Stefanopoulos expressed his total opposition on the immediate holding of elections, critising the ND party's stance as well as

statements by A. Samaras on the participation of his party in the new government.

 

«The country has no need for elections, but rather a capable government that will work towards averting the danger it faces,» the former President said in his article which appears in the Sunday edition of "Kathimerini", adding that «A few days ago the party leaders, with the exception of the leftist parties, agreed to back a government under Papademos, without all of them knowing whether they support or oppose the government».

 

Therefore «the parties must, in amending the original agreement, provide him with sufficient time» and his full constitutional right to appoint and remove ministers.

 

Stefanopoulos notes that Loukas Papademos' government, has the necessary qualifications, prestige and contacts abroad in order to achieved these goals, «Therefore the parties ought to cease seeking elections and acknowledge the set time, until the completion of the full term since the previous elections, during which Papademos will work in the interest on the country as not to be forced to exit the eurozone or face any other disastrous developments», he said.

 

The former President, who remains one of the most popular Greek politicians and rarely speaks publicly, questions the arguments for holding general elections put forth by ND and leftist parties, while charging that Pasok president George Papandreou, who stated that elections are needed, is acting in self-interest.

 

Stefanopoulos closed by praising «the restraint shown by employees and pensioners towards the sloppily designed tax measures».