April 27, 1959
GEORGIOS PAPANDREOU: Yesterday’s report that Georgios Papandreou has decided to form his own political party has been confirmed. The official announcement will appear in tomorrow’s printed press, along with the name of the new party, which, according to rumor, is to be called the Liberal Democratic Party. All does not bode well for the new party for, although the current situation should favor it, it is doubtful whether the various centrist parties and groups will agree to join it or even have it lead a united national opposition front. Meanwhile, divisions continue to plague the Liberal Party and it is believed certain that when Liberal Party leader Sophocles Venizelos returns from his trip to the ports on the Black Sea, there will be further developments. It is not thought certain that Papandreou’s new party will win the confidence of the centrist politicians, who regard him as too conservative. In their view, the democratic center should have a leader inspired by progressive ideas and capable of mobilizing the masses, which are currently being influenced by the United Democratic Left and other leftist groups.
