Kedikoglou: gov’t wants support of DIMAR [UPDATE]
Government spokesman Fotis Kouvelis said on Friday that the conservative-led coalition wants Democratic Left (DIMAR), the junior partner in the coalition, to remain in the government but that the party must decide what its course will be.
“Of course we want DIMAR’s support but they want decide what they will do,” Kedikoglou told Skai television, adding that the party’s stance regarding state broadcaster ERT remained unclear.
In comments earlier to ANT1, Kedikoglou accused Kouvelis of reneging on an informal agreement that had been reached between the three coalition leaders regarding the status and operations of the state broadcaster. The government spokesman echoed a televised speech by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Thursday night, saying that the only thing that had remained to be agreed upon between the coalition leaders was the number of employees to be rehired to the broadcaster. Kedikoglou said the premier had expressed his willingness to increase the staff.
“We expect a clarification regarding the stance of Democratic Left and we hope for its continued support,» Kedikoglou said as DIMAR’s parliamentary group convened for crisis talks. The spokesman added that there would not be an absence of government or inertia because of DIMAR and praised PASOK for its «responsible» stance in sticking with the government.
