GREECE:GREECE'S political system was in turmoil last night as a party leaders' meeting called to seal the deal on the composition of a new crisis coalition was unexpectedly postponed until this morning.
The meeting was widely expected to name parliamentary speaker Filippos Petsalnikos – who became the lead favourite in the media on the third day of negotiations on the inter-party government – as the country’s new prime minister.
But the choice of Mr Petsalnikos, a founding member of the ruling socialist Pasok party, reportedly caused a backlash among Pasok MPs, already enraged at the torpedoing of another candidate, former central banker Lucas Papademos, on Tuesday night.
With his European reputation and experience, many feel that Mr Papademos is the only credible candidate to rescue the country from fiscal disaster.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a prominent Pasok MP and former minister said last night that she believed that leading prime ministerial aides were opposed to Mr Papademos as he had demanded that the finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, not continue in his post.
Last night’s fiasco may leave the Pasok leader with no choice but to propose Mr Papademos, a former vice-president of the European Central Bank, at the reconvened party leaders’ meeting this morning.
Main opposition New Democracy has indicated that it has no objections to his candidature.
But last night, it was reported on Mega TV that Mr Papademos has set three conditions on him becoming prime minister. Firstly, he wants Mr Samaras to sign a declaration that he supports the October 27th debt deal.
His second condition is that New Democracy allows its MPs join the new government. And thirdly that the date of the election, set for February 19th, be extended.
Mr Samaras has made it known in recent days that he opposes all these conditions.
In setting his terms, Mr Papademos has also dropped his opposition to the government’s existing economic team, including Mr Venizelos, from staying on.