January 11, 1956
GENERAL ELECTION: As already announced by Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis, Parliament was dissolved yesterday and February 19 was set as the date for a general election. The dissolution order, signed yesterday morning by King Paul, was printed by the National Printing House and was posted on the Parliament’s entrance. At the same time, the five new caretaker ministers were sworn in before the king and in the presence of the prime minister. CONSTANTINE KARAMANLIS: The prime minister stated: «I could have prolonged my tenure until the end of the year, as I had the parliamentary majority. However, I desire the clearing up of the situation through the people’s verdict. Naturally, it was impossible to accept the opposition’s demand for a caretaker government. The constitution does not provide for caretaker governments, and the opposition was only entitled to express a wish for one, not demand it.» GEORGE PAPANDREOU: «We were unaware that the prime minister is also a teacher of ethics. He should learn that the call for equal treatment in a democracy cannot amount to a mere wish. It is a demand.»
