Minister gone but problems remain for ND
Mired in scandals and internal bickering, New Democracy plans to launch a charm offensive over the next few days in a bid to restore the public’s trust in the government, as a poll yesterday showed PASOK ahead of the ruling conservatives. ND’s answer to the problems that have beset it in recent weeks will be for high-profile officials to make regular appearances in the more rural regions and in the media to defend the government’s record and its policies. The conservatives are hoping that yesterday’s handover ceremony at the Merchant Marine Ministry will signal the end of the downward spiral for the government. Outgoing minister Giorgos Voulgarakis grabbed the opportunity to again plead that he was innocent of inappropriate behavior after revelations about his business activities while in office. «You can be sure that it will soon become clear why a contract was taken out on my political career and what the people who drew it up and carried it out are really aiming to achieve,» Voulgarakis said. It is thought that he will now try to maintain a low profile, out of the media spotlight. ND’s hopes that the minister’s goodbye would allow it to greet improved opinion poll results were dashed yesterday. PASOK now has a 2.2 percent lead over the government, according to a Metron Analysis poll carried out for ANT-1 TV. Of some 1,000 people questioned over the phone, 28.8 percent said they would vote for PASOK and 26.6 percent for ND. It was the latest of several polls to show that PASOK had either almost caught up with or, in this case, overtaken the conservatives. The survey results were a boost for the Socialists following the appearance of their leader, George Papandreou, at the Thessaloniki International Fair over the weekend. «He showed that he will be the next prime minister,» said the party’s spokesman Giorgos Papaconstantinou. Papandreou’s performance, which was seen as being purposely subdued so as not to risk upsetting the course of events that has seen the government shoot itself in the foot, was also well received by a number of high-profile party members. Another problem could be looming for ND on Thursday, when the party’s outspoken MP Petros Tatoulis is due to meet with President Karolos Papoulias. On Sunday, Tatoulis said on his blog that Greece could not tolerate any other «heirs and princes of politics,» a barb aimed at both Papandreou and Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.
