The confidence vote "frees" dissenters

The parliament discussion ον the vote of confidence in the government on Tuesday night might turn into an alibi for PASOK MPs who are thinking of voting against the mid-term program.

As PASOK MPs already estimate, the PG members who insist on voting against the mid-term will be free to do so, and after having given their confidence vote, they will be able to vote against the mid-term without feeling guilty or running the risk of being removed.

Until recently, those close to the PM left a possibility open as to whether there will be an issue of party discipline. And it remains unclear even today, 10 days before the voting. However, and although the mid-term is unlikely to be voted against, especially if KKE and SYRIZA members refrain from voting, the more votes are lost from PASOK, the more  Papandreou's political problem will increase, opening up a new round of consultations, with election scenarios surfacing once again.

It is expected that Vice President and Finance minister Evangelos Venizelos, will try to re-update the MPs during the time remaining before the voting, demonstrating any positive elements in Papakonstantinou’s program and improving others. There is a likelihood that it won’t be voted on as one single article in order to allow MPs to vote on principle and against specific items.

According to yesterday’s story by Proto Thema, four PASOK MPs are expressing their decision to vote against it, each giving their own reasons. Gioumatzidis, Athanasiadis, Arapoglou and Voudouris belong to the group of those who seem unwilling to budge. Their final decisions will come after the crucial voting, and will depend on Venizelos’ possible new approach to the mid-term.