EUROZONE-GREECE/OPPOSITION Greek opposition parties say no to possible elections, reaffirms support for Tsipras

Record ID: 134841

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/OPPOSITION Greek opposition parties say no to possible elections, reaffirms support for Tsipras
  • Date: 21st July 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (JULY 21, 2015) (REUTERS) STAVROS THEODORAKIS, HEAD OF THE GREEK OPPOSITION PARTY TO POTAMI, SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS BEFORE THE START OF NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS VARIOUS OF THEODORAKIS SPEAKING AT PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) STAVROS THEODORAKIS, HEAD OF THE GREEK OPPOSITION PARTY TO POTAMI, SAYING: "We say that elections in autumn would be catastrophic for
  • Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA1EPYF08L3U1H86KUYC0QNBRSE
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Greek opposition party leaders on Tuesday (July 21) said no to possible snap elections while reaffirming their support for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras but warned against further "misadventures" that would risk the country's place in the eurozone.
    Following a parliamentary vote last week where Tsipras lost the support of 39 Syriza party lawmakers, rumours and speculations have surfaced of snap elections set for as early as September or October.
    Stavros Theodorakis, leader of the centrist To Potami party, said a possible snap election in the autumn would be "catastrophic" for the country.
    "We say that elections in autumn would be catastrophic for the country. The economy cannot stand it. And the middle class will not be able to endure another misadventure," said Theodorakis whose party, along with extreme far-right Golden Dawn Party, is the third biggest in the parliament after the ruling Syriza and the New Democracy party.
    To Potami, along with the centre-right New Democracy and Socialist Pasok, supported Tsipras during a fractious vote on the new bailout programme in the parliament last week that left the government without a majority.
    Tsipras sacked party rebels in a government reshuffle on Friday (July 17) and is seeking a swift start to talks on the bailout accord with European partners and the IMF.
    Theodorakis said political differences have to be set aside until the country is on the right course.
    "At this moment, the country is in flames. Right now the country still has not been saved. So our patriotic duty is clear - we set aside our differences, leaving the sticking points aside, and we work together for as long as it takes - 2 months, 3 months, 5 months - it will of course depend on what work is done by the government - until the country is stabilised. And afterwards we could go to elections," Theodorakis said.
    His stand was echoed by the Socialist Pasok Party whose leader Fofi Genimmata met with Greek President Prokopios Pavlopoulos on Tuesday.
    "The Prime Minister must first of all commit himself and say there is no chance of elections until we securely and safely say our country has left 'Grexit' and misadventures behind us," she told reporters outside the palace.
    A government spokeswoman said that Greece should wrap up bailout talks with international lenders by August 20, once parliament approves the second package of measures demanded by creditors on Wednesday (July 22).
    Wednesday's vote in parliament follows a first vote last week on the so-called "prior actions" demanded of Greece as a pre-condition before the start of full bailout talks.
    Greece on Monday (July 20) reopened its banks and repaid billions of euros owed to the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank in the first signs of a return to normality after it struck a cash-for-reforms deal with other eurozone countries last week.
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