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Sunday, 22 December 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-10-21Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou calls for victory mandatePASOK party leader George Papandreou, speaking to an audience in the indoor Alkazar stadium in Larissa, central Greece, on Sunday called for a new and clear victory mandate to enable him to make PASOK a popular, social, radical, patriotic and progressive party.Papandreou added that what is necessary is a PASOK of change, a PASOK of democracy and of the socialist centre-left. Speaking in his first address away from Athens, ahead of elections due to be held in the party on November 11 for its leadership, Papandreou insisted on the autonomy of politics, terming it a precondition for overcoming the crisis currently being experienced by the political system. He further said that the enemies of autonomy are not only the vested interests, but those serving them as well. "The way with which the big publishing interests became involved in our internal procedures confirms the need for democratic and social control of the media," he said. Papandreou also said he was never a supporter of exclusions, separations or expulsions and will not allow the unfair expulsion of comrades, but he will also not allow the expulsion of ideas either. The PASOK leader went on to criticise the ruling New Democracy party, saying that what his party had been saying before the elections is now being confirmed by government policy. Referring to the social security issue in particular, Papandreou said that the government is opening the issue with a recipe leading to the overturning of social security and pensioning rights. He further added that at a time when the government is preparing an increase in VAT, as well as a new storm of indirect taxes, it is providing tax breaks for high incomes. Lastly, Papandreou noted that the party must find its identity again and become an agency of wide social momentum and stressed that a new course and a new beginning will be set for Greece on November 12. CAPTION: ANA-MPA file photo of PASOK leader George Papandreou. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |