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Coalition between liberal forces - difficult but not impossible

08 May 2012 / 23:05:59  GRReporter
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After the unsuccessful attempt of pro-European liberal parties to enter parliament, publications have appeared in recent hours that a coalition is expected between the Democratic Alliance of Dora Bakogiannis and Stefanos Manos’ Drasi.

"It seems that the choice of not forming a coalition before the elections, which has resulted in the failure of either of the two parties to enter parliament, has taught a lesson to the liberal forces in Greece.

According to sources, the discussions between the close associates of the two leaders have advanced so much that it is very possible for the two parties to participate in eventual new elections together. The new alliance will most probably be announced in the coming days." This is just one of the texts that has been spread in the web media in Greece.
 
The rumours were fuelled by Stefanos Manos’ statement that his party is ready to form a coalition with other reformist and pro-European politicians in order to establish a "front of logic that can be representative of the vast majority of Greeks, who want the country to emerge from the crisis within Europe, in a spirit of social peace and in a democratic and coordinated manner."

But the enthusiasm of the supporters of both parties, who were frustrated by their inability to work together before the elections to secure at least one voice of logic in parliament, was cooled by the former finance minister in the office of Konstantinos Mitsotakis.

In a written statement, Stefanos Manos denied the information published in the media about a joint participation of Drasi, the Democratic Alliance and the party ReCreate Greece in the elections and the search for a candidate to be approved by all. "Coalitions themselves are complicated and irrelevant publications do not make them easier," he said.

Meanwhile, a movement of deputies is being formed in New Democracy, calling Antonis Samaras to invite, without setting any conditions, all former party members, who are outside the party for one reason or another.

Many of them believe that if this does not happen, there will be no possibility of improving the situation in the blue camp. According to sources, at a meeting in the party headquarters, Antonis Samaras said that the parties of Dora Bakogiannis, Stefanos Manos and Thanos Dzimeros "had stolen" 7% from New Democracy.

Deputies like Aris Spiliotopoulos and Nikitas Kaklamanis made public statements that all right-wing forces should unite. Discussions about the possible comeback of George Karatzaferis have already been launched.

There is yet no response from Antonis Samaras on the matter. Some of the leading figures in the party believe that the telephone conversation with Konstantinos Mitsotakis on the occasion of his wife passing away is the first step towards the convergence of the two parties. It should be noted that both politicians had not been talking to each other for 20 years after the events that led to the fall of Mitsotakis' office in which Samaras was foreign minister.

In an interview on Sky TV, Stefanos Manos did not exclude the possibility of even returning to New Democracy. Dora Bakogiannis’ response is expected too as she said yesterday that in the event of new elections, she will attempt to form a coalition with the parties Drasi and ReCreate Greece.

 

Tags: PoliticsLiberalsRight forcesStefanos ManosDora BakogiannisNew Democracy
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