Greek prime minister survives confidence vote

 

By Damien McElroy, Athens

12:04AM GMT 05 Nov 2011

George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, narrowly survived a vote of no confidence on Friday night after promising to begin talks with the opposition to establish a power-sharing government to implement the eurozone bail-out.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou speaks during the third day of the confidence vote debate in Athens Photo: EPA

In a speech to a highly charged parliamentary debate Mr Papandreou said he would ask the country's president to authorise talks with the opposition to run the country before an election when the financial situation had stabilised.

Mr Papandreou, who won the vote by 153 votes to 145, said the talks could lead to a installation of a new prime minister if the main parties sign up to a new pact.

"I am asking for your support in the vote of confidence so that this process can be assured," Mr Papandreou said. "Tomorrow I will meet the president and brief him about my intension for a broader cross party government. I will speak with all party leaders."

However Antonis Samaras, the head of the main opposition New Democracy rejected the prime minister's overtures. He said: "Mr Papandreou rejected our proposal. The only solution is elections."

 

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Forming a coalition would avoid the risk of immediate snap elections that would push Greece closer to a default on its debts and would give Athens breathing space to approve the bail-out to receive a vital sixth tranche of aid from lenders.

Mr Papandreou's offer came at the end of a tumultuous week that started with him securing a second bail-out from the European Union but then upending markets by unilaterally deciding to put the terms of that rescue to the Greek people in a vote.

Greek leaders premier must secure agreement on the aid package before Greece runs out of funds next month.

Greek prime minister survives confidence vote - Telegraph