GREECE-VOTE/REACTIONS Greece to hold early presidential vote, snap election could follow
Record ID:
328398
GREECE-VOTE/REACTIONS Greece to hold early presidential vote, snap election could follow
- Title: GREECE-VOTE/REACTIONS Greece to hold early presidential vote, snap election could follow
- Date: 9th December 2014
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 9 2014) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH SQUARE PARLIAMENT BUILDING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) ATHENS RESIDENT SPYROS, SAYING: "This will definitely lead to national elections, and this government has to go because we cannot take it anymore. But these are all tricks." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) PENSIONER GEORGE STEPHANIDIS, SAYING: "I want elections as early as tomorrow, because this government that is ruling the country is a minority, we saw this from the European elections. It is unacceptable for a government to rule and make laws and pass them and for us to suffer the consequences of those laws. That is why I say elections, elections tomorrow." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) INSURANCE SALESPERSON ATHINA, SAYING: "A president will be elected, because a president must be elected. But I would like elections, regardless of the fact that what should happen and what we would like to happen are two different things." MAN READING NEWSPAPERS NEWSPAPERS HANGING ON NEWS STAND 'EDITORS' NEWSPAPER HEADLINE, READING: "ELECTIONS BY ORDER OF THE TROIKA" 'TA NEA' NEWSPAPER HEADLINE, READING: "SANTA CLAUS IS BRINGING A PRESIDENT" NEWSPAPERS HANGING 'ETHNOS' NEWSPAPER, READING: "A CLEAR SOLUTION: PRESIDENT IN DECEMBER OR ELECTIONS"
- Embargoed: 24th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6JDE26CPV3FBA8E2LHV4P8ZMS
- Story Text: Greeks woke up to new political developments on Tuesday (December 9) after the government brought forward a crucial presidential vote to next week, increasing the possibility of snap elections.
"Santa Claus is bringing a president", read the headline of the 'Ta Nea' newspaper, while the 'Editors' newspaper read: "Elections by order of the troika".
The decision announced on Monday (December 8) to bring forward the vote by two months is a surprise move aimed at ending political uncertainty that has lingered over the country for months.
The move came after euro zone finance ministers said they were in favour of granting Greece's request for only a two-month extension to its bailout programme, a boost for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras who has been pushing for an early exit from the programme which is very unpopular among Greeks.
Parliament's vote to select a new president, the first round of which will be held on December 17 instead of February 15 as previously scheduled, could trigger early elections if Samaras fails to get his candidate for president elected.
The prime minister needs the support of 180 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament to win the vote - support he does not currently have.
"This will definitely lead to national elections, and this government has to go because we cannot take it anymore," said Spyros, a resident of Athens. "But these are all tricks," he added, suggesting the government was calling the presidential vote early in an attempt to spread panic and win the vote.
"I want elections as early as tomorrow, because this government that is ruling the country is a minority, we saw this from the European elections. It is unacceptable for a government to rule and make laws and pass them and for us to suffer the consequences of those laws. That is why I say elections, elections tomorrow," said pensioner George Stephanidis.
"A president will be elected, because a president must be elected," said Athina, an insurance salesperson, suggesting that snap elections were unlikely. "But I would like elections, regardless of the fact that what should happen and what we would like to happen are two different things," she added.
Officials and analysts said the move to bring forward the vote was a sign that the coalition government, which has 155 members of parliament, has improved its prospects of securing the level of support it needs to survive.
The presidential vote will be held over three rounds, with the final round expected on December 29. No candidate has yet been named. Greek law stipulates that parliament must be dissolved and new elections called if a president cannot be chosen.
Government officials said the move by euro zone ministers to grant Greece a two-month extension to its bailout rather than the six-month extension Athens objected to, was a boost, giving the country just enough time to wrap up a delayed bailout review before it exits the programme for good.
Prime Minister Samaras had been relying on exiting the unpopular aid programme by the end of this year, but his plan ran into trouble as Athens and its lenders haggled over next year's budget.
Opinion polls show the leftist Syriza party would win if early elections were held right now. Syriza welcomed the move to bring forward the presidential vote. The party has vowed to end cooperation with European Union and International Monetary Fund lenders and promises to reverse austerity cuts taken in recent years. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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