"No more recession…"

The support of the three political leaders toward the government was confirmed at yesterday’s joint meeting with PM Lucas Papademos, despite the conflict between Papandreou and Samaras.

In Papandreou’s statement that "ND needs to clarify its stance, provide firmer support to the government and assume its responsibilities," Samaras said that "there is no long-term coalition government, but as we all know the problems exist within PASOK."

According to ND sources, the leaders had an overall estimation on the critical PSI issue.

Papademos gave the leaders a non paper with positions including the reduction of supplementary pensions and cuts in the 13th and 14th salaries.

According to ND, Samaras rejected these cuts, saying they must not implement measures that will lead to another recession. They add that he stressed they should wait for developments in the negotiation between the social partners before they declare their positions.

However, ND denies that the leaders were asked to sign a text. They also say there cannot be a meeting next week since Samaras and Papandreou will be absent, but do not exclude it in the coming weeks. The ND president also asked not to eliminate IGME and the Secretariat of Northern Greece.

But there was disagreement regarding the time of elections issue, raised by Karatzaferis. Samaras said that "nothing has changed since the leaders’ agreement and if we did change the policy framework then we would show ourselves unreliable in our relationships but also towards the Greek people." He believes that if the PSI goes as
smoothly as calculated, then the elections can take place before Easter. He also rejected Papandreou’s proposal to change the electoral law and establish a list. Generally, ND insists that the government is of a special purpose and rejects policy proposals that go beyond the original agreement.