Greece Will Form Coalition Government
Antonis Samara leads New Democracy |
08 November 2011
(ATHENS)
-- Greek officials will announce the make-up of the interim government on
Wednesday. Prime Minister George Papandreou and Antonis Samaras have been in
negotiations since Monday. Samaras is the leader of New Democracy, the largest
opposition party. The following names could be possible candidates to lead the
new government: Lucas Papademos, a former vice-president of the European
Central Bank, Nikiforos Diamandouros, Greece's European ombudsman, and Panagiotis Roumeliotis, Greece's representative to the
International Monetary Fund. Greece
is set to run out of money within weeks. Jean-Claude Juncker, the Eurozone
chief, wants the leaders of the two main parties in Greece to sign an agreement
committing to the previously agreed upon reforms.
Comment – Turbulence
within the government has been apparent. The second loan tranche continues to
be the source of much debate. Some members of the ruling party have resigned.
Citizens of Greece held strikes
across Greece
in past week to show their displeasure of the impending austerity measures. PM
Papandreou survived a vote of confidence after announcing he would put the fate
of the bailout into the hands of the citizens by issuing a referendum. Though
he survived the confidence vote, he agreed to step down and form a coalition
government. The motivation behind Papandreou’s actions is unknown. It is
somewhat likely he could be making political maneuvers to ensure the next
bailout payment for Greece
goes ahead.
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