GREECE: Greek MPs arrive for debate on confidence vote called by Prime Minister George Papandreou
Record ID:
327647
GREECE: Greek MPs arrive for debate on confidence vote called by Prime Minister George Papandreou
- Title: GREECE: Greek MPs arrive for debate on confidence vote called by Prime Minister George Papandreou
- Date: 3rd November 2011
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (NOVEMBER 2, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF PARLIAMENT INTERIOR MINISTER HARRIS KASTANIDIS ARRIVING AT PARLIAMENT DEFENCE MINISTER PANAGIOTIS BEGLITIS ARRIVING AT PARLIAMENT JUSTICE MINISTER MILTIADIS PAPPAIOANNOU ARRIVING AT PARLIAMENT
- Embargoed: 18th November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece, Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABG6QRUYEK9ZNSPB30Z8KODFOK
- Story Text: Deputies began a heated debate in parliament on a confidence vote called by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday (November 2) as the prime minister faced Euroepan Union leaders in Cannes.
Germany and France told Greece on Wednesday it should make up its mind by mid-December whether it wants to stay in the euro zone when Greeks vote on a 130-billion-euro bailout.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany's Angela Merkel summoned George Papandreou for crisis talks in Cannes, before a G20 summit of major world economies, to push for rapid implementation of measures to tackle the euro zone debt crisis, which Athens has thrown into doubt.
Sarkozy said Papandreou's announcement of a referendum "took the whole of Europe by surprise" and his prime minister, Francois Fillon, told parliament: "Europe cannot be kept waiting for weeks for the outcome of the referendum."
Opinion polls suggest most Greeks think the deal thrashed out by euro zone leaders last week is a bad one, but much will depend on how Papandreou frames the debate, either on the bailout -- and the painful cuts it demands -- or membership of the euro, which remains popular.
"This opportunity should not be lost, this big possibility that is being offered to the country," said Public Administration Minister Dimitris Reppas, referring to the EU agreement made with Brussels. "This agreement guarantees Greece's place in the zone of the euro, it provides guarantees for deposits, wages, pensions, the functioning of the state, schools, hospitals and services. It makes the public debt viable, and fourth it includes a source of development - in the community (structural) funds."
Greece's prime minister won the backing of his cabinet on Wednesday to hold the referendum although some of his party lawmakers called for him to quit for jeopardizing Greek euro membership with his shock decision to call a popular vote. But the cabinet support at least gives him a stay of execution before the confidence vote in parliament on Friday.
Papandreou's gamble guarantees weeks of uncertainty just when the 17-nation currency area is desperate for a period of calm to implement the remedies agreed to overcome its sovereign debt crisis.
Greek officials said the referendum would be called as soon as it was possible.
During the cabinet meeting that wrapped up around 3 a.m. after seven hours, some ministers questioned the timing of the referendum and criticized the fact they had been kept in the dark, and a handful were openly against it, government sources said.
A leading PASOK lawmaker earlier quit the party over the referendum, narrowing Papandreou's slim majority to 152 of 300 seats. The opposition called for elections, and during the debate on Wednesday deputies of the opposition again called for an early vote.
"Elections will provide the solution..the elections will provide the solution for both questions of whether this recipe is any good and whether the cook is any good. If in other words society will choose your policy or another policy, but mainly if the cook - the prime minister in other words - is the best for this job right now or if someone else should be chosen. Why don't you call elections," said New Democracy opposition party MP Konstantinos Markopoulos.
Papandreou needs 151 votes to enact the referendum. If any of the dissenters votes against, it cannot be held, and there is still plenty of dissent.
The vote of confidence will take place on Friday, with another day of debate on Thursday. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None