Socialist government and conservatives opposition plot 'grand coalition' to deal with debt crisis amid violent strike in Athens, reports state TV
Greece's Socialist government has begun power-sharing talks with the opposition conservatives as violent clashes ripped through Athens, state television has reported.
State-run NET television said the prime minister, George Papandreou, was in talks with opposition leader Antonis Samaras to form a possible grand coalition government to deal with the country's crippling debt crisis.
Officials were not immediately available for comment, but several conservative deputies publicly backed the idea and called for Papandreou to step aside.
"The most important member of a ship's crew is the captain, and the captain has to go," prominent conservative deputy Theodoros Karaoglou said. "If we joined forces, we could go to our [creditors] together to negotiate and the results of course would be better."
Violent clashes lasted several hours after more than 25,000 people gathered outside parliament to protest against a new package of tax hikes and spending cuts. At least 20 people were detained, police said.
The rally was called during a general strike against a new wave of austerity measures worth €28bn (£25bn) to 2015, exceeding the Socialists' scheduled term in office by two years.
Papandreou has suffered plummeting approval ratings and an open revolt within his own Pasok party. One of his deputies left the party on Tuesday night and declared himself an independent, reducing Pasok's majority to five seats in the 300-member parliament.
--
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/15/greece-parties-plan-power-sharing
~
Manage subscription | Powered by rssforward.com
No comments:
Post a Comment