April 5, 1958
EDA-MARKEZINIS DISPUTE: Negotiations between four small parties as well as the United Democratic Left (EDA) to form a Popular Front foundered last night after concerted efforts throughout the previous 24 hours on the part of EDA to avert such an outcome. After disagreement arose between Progressive Party leader Spyros Markezinis and EDA representatives last Wednesday, meetings were held between the leaders of the four small parties that night. Yesterday morning, Ilias Iliou and Antonis Brillakis visited Markezinis on behalf of EDA and summed up the parties’ views of EDA’s objections to the cooperation program. The EDA representatives later met with Markezinis, but no agreement could be reached and the talks broke down. Markezinis was then visited by the leader of EPEK party, Savvas Papapolitis, and the Farmers’ Party, Alexandros Baltatzis, who informed him of their disagreement with Iliou and Brillakis regarding the platform of the proposed Popular Front. Papapolitis and Baltatzis later said they would not enter into any agreement with EDA without the participation of the Progressives.
