New Democracy hopes SYRIZA will join unity govrnment
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras is due to address his 108 MPs on Friday shortly after meeting PASOK chief Evangelos Venizelos to discuss the formation of a unity government, which the conservatives would like to include the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA).
There is concern in ND ranks that basing an administration on cooperation between PASOK, New Democracy and Democratic Left alone would not be viable due to a surge of support for SYRIZA. ?The Greek people gave a mandate to the country?s politicians to create a government that is supported by many parties and many political trends,? said ND spokesman Yiannis Michelakis.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso contacted Samaras, as well as Venizelos, on Thursday to express concern about the political instability in Athens.
Samaras?s invitation for former party members to return to help form a broad center-right, pro-European front had not earned a positive response by last night. Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader Giorgos Karatzaferis is biding his time pending this week?s political developments but the leader of liberal Drasi, Stefanos Manos, dashed any hopes of a return.
Manos told NET TV last night that talks between his party and Dora Bakoyannis?s Democratic Alliance with regard to cooperation between the two are progressing. ?I think that we will get there very soon,? said Manos.
