Samaras: Our proposal is still on the table
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras attacked Prime Minister George Papandreou on Saturday afternoon for not resigning and for calling for new measures, but left the door open for negotiations suggesting that he is prepared to discuss on an interim government and accept the new bailout agreement so as to return the country to stability.
He is now set to meet President Karolos Papoulias on Sunday at noon to discuss the prospect of a new government, following a request by the President.
?We have asked for an interim transition government to restore the feeling of stability and lead the country to elections. We did not seek any positions in that government, but just the resignation of Mr Papandreou, who has now become dangerous for the country. He originally branded the proposal ?very positive,? but later in Parliament he rejected it as ?disastrous?. Our proposal remains on the table. We hope he realizes his error,? said Samaras.
He accused the Prime Minister of asking the Parliament for a vote of confidence to resign and ?has not done so, at least until now,? and that every time New Democracy is trying to open the way, ?the Papandreou-Venizelos government devises new obstacles and closes it.?
Samaras said the four-month plan the Prime Minister has envisaged for a coalition government is impossible. ?His proclamations for the next government are not for just a few months, but for a full four-year term. A government like that would require an agreement on everything. Is it possible for this to happen by a government that does not enjoy the legitimization of the Greek people, as it will have not been chosen by it??
?I reiterate my message and I send it everywhere, domestically and in Europe: ?We accept the decision for the haircut. We accept the [fiscal] convergence targets. We also accept the structural changes. Just as the current Prime Minister of Portugal did before the elections, when he was still in the opposition,? stated Samaras, flanked by vice-presidents Dimitris Avramopoulos and Stavros Dimas. The latter is rumored to be among the candidates for the premiership if there is a coalition government after all.
?Papandreou is not looking for a saviour government. He is trying to commit everyone to his personal and pointless choices. We call for a return to normality: Elections, so as to stabilize the country, restore its image and lead ourselves out of this nightmare as soon as possible.?
