GREECE-VOTE/REAX Greek PM hopes to avoid snap election after better parliament showing

Record ID: 328418

  • Title: GREECE-VOTE/REAX Greek PM hopes to avoid snap election after better parliament showing
  • Date: 23rd December 2014
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 23, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF GREEK PARLIAMENT GREEK FLAG GREEK PRIME MINISTER, ANTONIS SAMARAS, WALKING DOWN STEPS OF PARLIAMENT TOWARDS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) GREEK PRIME MINISTER, ANTONIS SAMARAS, SAYING: "I am hopeful that in the third round we will avoid a national danger, a national adventure." MAIN OPPOSITION SYRIZA PARTY LEADER, ALEXIS TSIPRAS, WALKING DOWN STEPS OF PARLIAMENT TOWARDS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) MAIN OPPOSITION SYRIZA PARTY LEADER, ALEXIS TSIPRAS, SAYING: "Neither parliament or the people will give a blank check to (Prime Minister Antonis) Samaras so he can continue with bailouts and to implement austerity measures." DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY LEADER, FOTIS KOUVELIS, WALKING DOWN STEPS OF PARLIAMENT TOWARDS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY LEADER, FOTIS KOUVELIS, SAYING: "The country must turn a page, society must also turn a page. There must be change in Greece." INDEPENDENT GREEKS PARTY LEADER, PANOS KAMENOS, WALKING DOWN STEPS OF PARLIAMENT TOWARDS MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) INDEPENDENT GREEKS PARTY LEADER, PANOS KAMENOS, SAYING: "Hope does not only come with the birth of Christ but also with the release of the country from bailouts, policies that are imposed by foreign occupiers, bankers and creditors." SYNTAGMA SQUARE IN CENTRAL ATHENS, VIEW OF PARLIAMENT IN BACKGROUND, CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH SQUARE PEOPLE POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS WITH SANTA AND CARTOON CHARACTER IN SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) 57 YEAR OLD ATHENS RESIDENT, DIMITRIS AVRAMIDIS, CONTRACTOR, SAYING: "Regardless of what happens, we have to get up in the morning and go to work and our families have to try and make a living. We live in two different worlds, the people and the politicians; I am disappointed by all of them." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) 36 YEAR OLD ATHENS RESIDENT, ALEKOS KASTRINOS, PRIVATE BUSINESSMAN, SAYING: "I don't think Syriza or the government is to blame, they are all to blame, they should be able to cooperate. It's simple, they should just cooperate. And elections can happen (after) sure why not? Elections can be held but first they should cooperate and then we can move on." (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) 67 YEAR OLD PENSIONER, MIRANDA THEODOROU, SAYING: "This is not the time for changes in the system; we need to proceed as is, so we can move forward. And then afterwards there can be elections." INTERIOR OF ATHENS STOCK EXCHANGE WITH CHRISTMAS TREE SHARE PRICE TICKER AND TREE SHARE PRICE TICKER SHARE PRICE TICKER AND GRAPHS VARIOUS OF GRAPHS VARIOUS OF TICKER
  • Embargoed: 7th January 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA376OL4J84J5962CS69U01SO6H
  • Story Text: Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said he hoped the improved result for his Presidential candidate on Tuesday (December 23), would avert the risk of snap elections, while his main rival said he was confident Greece would be going to the polls early.
    "I am hopeful that in the third round we will avoid a national danger," Samaras told reporters immediately after a second-round vote in parliament which gave his candidate Stavros Dimas 168 votes.
    The total was eight more than in the first round but still 12 short of the total required for victory in the decisive third vote on Dec. 29.
    By contrast Alexis Tsipras, head of the left-wing opposition party Syriza, which wants to renegotiate Greece's international bailout, said there was no alternative to a general election.
    "Neither parliament or the people will give a blank check to (Prime Minister Antonis) Samaras so he can continue with bailouts and to implement austerity measures," said Tsipras.
    Samaras' nominee, Stavros Dimas, the only candidate in the race, scored 168 votes out of 299 deputies, eight more than the first round.
    There were 131 'present' votes, which count against the candidate, and one absentee.
    Samaras needs 180 votes in the third and final round.
    Parliament must elect a President or a general election would have to be held by early February, potentially bringing in the left wing Syriza party which wants to renegotiate Greece's international bailout and roll back the austerity policies of recent years.
    The second round vote followed an offer by Samaras, whose term is to end in mid-2016, at the weekend to bring pro-European independents into his government and hold early elections late next year if Dimas is elected and negotiations to wrap up the bailout are completed.
    But two smaller opposition parties, the Independent Greeks and Democratic Left, which are key in getting the votes needed, have rejected the deal, although some may ending up backing the government.
    "The country must turn a page, society must also turn a page. There must be change in Greece," said Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis.
    Some Greeks said they were disappointed that deputies were unable to show unity and elect a President, when the people continued to suffer.
    "Regardless of what happens we have to get up in the morning and go to work and our families have to try and make a living. We live in two different worlds, the people and the politicians; I am disappointed by all of them," said Athens resident Dimitris Avramidis.
    Others expressed concern about the prospect of an early election, when Greece's economic situation is still unresolved.
    "This is not the time for changes in the system; we need to proceed as is, so we can move forward. And then afterwards there can be elections," said pensioner Miranda Theodorou.
    Opinion polls show most Greeks do not want snap elections
    Greek 10-year bond yields were up 15 basis points at 8.48 percent, reversing Monday's (December 22) fall on the back of Samaras' offer.
    Greek three-year yields rose 34 bps to 9.99 percent.
    Greek stocks trimmed losses after the vote, with the main Athens index trading 1.6 percent lower.
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