PASOK MPs pose issue of ministerial resignations

Two PASOK MPs, Odysseas Voudouris and Thanassis Oikonomou, have sent an open letter to the premier George Papandreou suggesting that ministers who cannot take the extreme pressure of the present circumstance should resign.

The MPs say that no matter what their letter suggests, they support the government and do not think the financial state of the country is doomed to total collapse. Nevertheless, they sent their letter because, in their view, things have not developed as quickly as they should have.

Regarding the opposition parties’ stance, they said that instead of standing by PASOK during a rough moment in the history of the nation, they are loyal to their own desires, a behavior which is going to help no one.

Voudouris and Oikonomou reminded the PM that Greece needs to continue on its path within the European spectrum as this is the only acceptable route for the country to follow.

But it is meaningless to follow a path without having first reassured the citizens of Greece of the conditions under which our effort is being made. First and above all, the government must promise people that the result of this strenuous exercise will be successful, that we will impose just measures under certain terms and after we make dialogue with them and finally, that we will be a decisive and efficient government.

The two MPs made clear that during a rough period for the country, each minister’s private needs must be put aside and although there are many who are fighting the battle, there are also others who appear completely unwilling to come aboard the ship; these are the ones who should leave the government immediately, as they cause problems and internal instability, said the MPs.

“The time is a crucial one and requires from us - both on a personal and a collective level - to go beyond our limits.
If we manage to do this, then the exit from the crisis will seem closer than we thought. Otherwise, the loser will be Greece as a whole, not just PASOK or another party”, wrote Voudouris and Oikonomou.