Early elections mulled
Officials close to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis yesterday denied that the ruling conservatives were considering calling elections next year even though the premier had earlier given the strongest hint yet that he may go to the polls early. Rounding off the debate on the 2007 budget late on Thursday night, Karamanlis responded robustly to a challenge by PASOK leader George Papandreou that «the sooner we have a general election the better.» «Don’t tempt me,» said the prime minister. «Be careful what you wish for because it may come true,» he added to thunderous applause from New Democracy MPs. Karamanlis went on to add that «elections will take place when the time is right, when we have completed our work.» He also said that 2007 would see the continuation of the reform program which his party has begun. However, commentators pointed out that the prime minister did not specify what he considered to be the completion of ND’s work for this term of office. Some consider this to be an indication that he is leaving the door open for early elections, possibly next spring or fall. New Democracy came to power in March 2004 and can serve up to four years in government if it chooses to. The conservatives won the vote on the 2007 budget comfortably with 166 MPs voting in favor and 134 voting against the economic plan which foresees a reduction of the public deficit to 2.4 percent of GDP. Sources within ND said the party was pleased by the expected outcome of the vote but also by the performance of the prime minister and Economy and Finance Minister Giorgos Alogoskoufis during the debate. Similarly, PASOK sources told Kathimerini that they felt encouraged by Papandreou’s confrontational style during his address. They added that the Socialists are preparing themselves for elections next year although there is a minority of party officials who think that ND will see out its four-year term. PASOK feels it is on a better footing to challenge the conservatives at the ballot box following the changes that Papandreou carried out earlier this month when he replaced his party secretary and named a shadow cabinet.
