Galery

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In an unscheduled statement, Antonis Samaras called on all political forces in Parliament to support the election of Stavros Dimas for president. The Prime Minister said he was open towards extending the ruling coalition with other pro-European forces.

Samaras emphasised that the country was ill-advised to plunge into election mode now, but elections could be organised by late 2015. He believes responsibility towards the Greek people excludes dragging the country into a new spell of instability at a time when the national economy needs strengthening if it is to survive the day following the Memorandum.

"First, we have to carry out our negotiations with the creditors and the constitutional amendments – with comfort and confidence. Thereupon, strengthened economically and politically, we might agree on the proper date for the parliamentary elections by the end of 2015," said Samaras.

He also mentioned the mutual accusations between his camp and SYRIZA of bribing lawmakers and put the blame at Alexis Tsipras’ door for him having played a key role in the attempts to poison Greek democracy, which however have failed.

The Prime Minister reiterated that SYRIZA’s president was the first one to say in Parliament that every MP who voted against the budget but for the election of a president, would be a bought MP. Samaras also argued that MPs Odysseas Vyronas and Theodoros Parastatidis cooperated with SYRIZA’s headquarters.

"Yet MPs have resisted this slanderous campaign," concluded Samaras.

He did not hesitate to lambaste Panos Kamenos as well, although he did not mention him by name, referring instead to a "well-known associate" of SYRIZA’s President.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister pointed out that "Only a very naive person would believe that negotiating on our economy or amending the constitution would be possible in an atmosphere of pre-election bickering. This is what the voice of responsibility before the Greek people says."