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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-04Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Congratulations for Papandreou winPASOK party leader George Papandreou on Sunday evening received several congratulatory phone calls from world leaders as well as Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who congratulated him for his party's victory in Sunday's snap election, wishing him every success.Papandreou, a former foreign minister, also received a phone call from US President Barack Obama, who said he wanted to be amongst the first to congratulate the PASOK leader, along with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and former Greek premier Costas Simitis, Papandreou's predecessor at PASOK's helm. Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) president also conveyed his congratulations to Papandreou. [02] Comfortable PASOK lead, Parliament majority (at 50%)Main opposition PASOK party and its leader George Papandreou posted a landslide election victory on Sunday in Greece's snap election, garnering 43.58 percent of the vote with 50 percent of precincts reporting nationwide at roughly 11:30 p.m. (21.30 GMT).PASOK was leading ruling New Democracy party by more than 8 percentile points, with the latter receiving 34.98 percent at the same 50-percent mark. Earlier, a unified exit poll aired by most Athens television stations gave PASOK between 41 to 44 percent of the vote to ND's 34.3 to 37.3 percent, with PASOK eying 151 to 159 projected MPs in Parliament, easily over the 150-limit (out of a 300-deputy legislature) needed to form a self-sufficient government. A 43.33-percent figure would translate into 160 MPs for PASOK, while ND's tally, if it stands, would be in the mid 90s. In terms of smaller Parliament-represented parties, the Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) stood at 7.17 percent; 4.30 percent for the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance; 5.46 percent for the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) and 2.33 percent for the newly formed Ecologists-Greens party, which appears -- based on exit polls -- unable to exceed the 3-percent ceiling needed to enter Parliament. The exit poll was conducted by the firms GPO, Alco, MARC, Metron Analysis and MRB-RASS, and presented by the state-run NET station, along with the private Alpha, Alter, ANT1 and Mega TV channels. [03] Comfortable PASOK lead, Parliament majorityMain opposition PASOK party and its leader George Papandreou posted a landslide election victory on Sunday in Greece's snap election, garnering 43.58 percent of the vote with 50 percent of precincts reporting nationwide at roughly 11:30 p.m. (21.30 GMT).PASOK was leading ruling New Democracy party by more than 8 percentile points, with the latter receiving 34.98 percent at the same 50-percent mark. Earlier, a unified exit poll aired by most Athens television stations gave PASOK between 41 to 44 percent of the vote to ND's 34.3 to 37.3 percent, with PASOK eying 151 to 159 projected MPs in Parliament, easily over the 150-limit (out of a 300-deputy legislature) needed to form a self-sufficient government. A 43.33-percent figure would translate into 160 MPs for PASOK, while ND's tally, if it stands, would be in the mid 90s. In terms of smaller Parliament-represented parties, the Communist Party of Greece's (KKE) stood at 7.17 percent; 4.30 percent for the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance; 5.46 percent for the Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) and 2.33 percent for the newly formed Ecologists-Greens party, which appears -- based on exit polls -- unable to exceed the 3-percent ceiling needed to enter Parliament. The exit poll was conducted by the firms GPO, Alco, MARC, Metron Analysis and MRB-RASS, and presented by the state-run NET station, along with the private Alpha, Alter, ANT1 and Mega TV channels. [04] ΚΚΕ on election resultsCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga termed Sunday's election results as a "heavy defeat for New Democracy and a victory for PASOK without, however, the positive developments that have taken place in the conscience of the people during the years of governance by New Democracy and PASOK being registered."She added that "results were in accordance with the influence and the role of KKE in the development of popular struggles." Papariga further said "there was a change of captain, but the direction is on the same course" and predicted that a storm of anti-popular measures are coming and that KKE is ready to assume its responsibilities for a unified front that will include working classes, small farmers and small shops. She also said that KKE "shall be on the front line of the struggle to thwart the worse and for seeking solutions to relieve the people." [05] Karatzaferis on resultsPopular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party leader George Karatzaferis, in a statement at central Athens' Zappeion Hall on Sunday night, stressed that it is obvious that the country's political map has changed, adding that (PASOK leader George) Papandreou is the winner of the elections, while at the same time congratulating the latter.Karatzaferis further opined that the New Democracy party sustained a "profound political defeat" and will enter into a major period of introversion. He added that his party achieved its target of 15 deputies and will face PASOK with a strong opposition. "In the good things it will find us together and in the grey ones opposed to it. Our role shall be more responsible and we shall continue with seriousness," he concluded. [06] SYRIZA on resultsRadical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras said the people rejected the policy of ND, which led to a heavy defeat, "a defeat of right-wing policy with greater poverty, greater unemployment and greater insecurity. The government is changing, but what is required is for government policy to change as well."As regards SYRIZA, Tsipras said it succeeded in overcoming problems and entered Parliament with a strong Parliamentary presence. "Our aim is to distinguish ourselves as a force of Leftist programme opposition," he stressed. Earlier, Tsipras telephoned to Papandreou to congratulate him for his party's victory in the elections and wished him all the best in his task. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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