Greek Presidency Announces Two Main Parties To Form Coalition

–Papandreou Will No Longer Serve As Prime Minister

ATHENS (MNI) – Greece’s two main political parties, the ruling
Socialists and opposition New Democracy, have agreed to form a coalition
government that will negotiate the details of a new bailout plan with
their European counterparts and then give way for early national
elections, the office of Greek President Karolos Papoulias said in a
statement late Sunday.

The presidency also announced that the current Prime Minister
George Papandreou will step down. The statement was issued after a
meeting Sunday night between Papandreou, New Democracy leader Antonis
Samaras and Papoulias.

The following is a translation from the Greek of the presidency’s
statement:

“At the meeting, we agreed to form a new government that will lead
the country to national elections imminently, after the implementation
of the decisions taken by the EU council on Oct 26. Delegations from the
two parties will meet in order to decide the details of the country’s
obligations based on the EU agreement. They will also decide the
timeframe.

Prime minister George Papandreou has already stated he will not be
leading the new government. Tomorrow the premier and main opposition
party leader Antonis Samaras will have another discussion in order to
name the new prime minister.

On Monday, the president of the Republic will call a meeting with
all party leaders.”

–Athens Bureau a_papamiltiadou@hotmail.com

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