Professor Vassilios Skouris is first in line

The jam in the selection of the new PM has led the political system on the verge of a nervous breakdown and all hope the pending matter will be terminated by the afternoon. Indicative of the political madness is that senior PASOK members are on one hand warning that Papandreou's successor must be a recognized figure, and on the other do not accept that the new prime minister is entitled to enforce any term he wishes. The first category includes names such as Professor Vassilios Skouris, president of the Court of Justice, who heard top ministers say during the last few hours that "Papandreou is a thousand times better than such choices," and who believe that the new prime minister must have the appropriate prestige.

On the other hand, Lucas Papademos does have this authority, but has met with reactions from other members, who considered unacceptable his claim that Venizelos should not be at the finance ministry of the new government. "Such requests take us back 150 years," they said, responding directly to Papademos’ suggestions on appointing such people as Alekos Papadopoulos, Vassilis Rapanos and others as ministers.

All these issues were discussed at a meeting in parliament late on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Papandreou and with the participation of Evangelos Venizelos, Philippos Petsalnikos and Nikos Athanassakis. It seems that they have found alternative names to give a definitive answer today. Reportedly, the case of Papademos has not been completely ruled out, the solution of Venizelos is always at the table - accepted by all PASOK members, but not by ND - while other solutions have emerged, such as Professor Vassilios Skouris and Nikiforos Diamandouros