The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-08-29

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Prime-minister to Decide his next Moves

Government announcements at the ITF next week are the focus of political interest while talks about early elections intensifies. The Prime-minister is expected to decided his next moves in the coming days as senior ND officials center their talks on whether the Prime-minister should proceed to early elections or government reshuffle.

According to reports the Prime-minister is to open his cards in the coming days among many scenarios of early elections and government reshuffle. Many ND members oppose to the holding of early elections, among them Culture Minister Mihalis Liapis and Savvas Tsitouridis.

Within the frame of contacts with production forces, to continue on Monday, Prime-minister Kostas Karamanlis met with the presidents of GSEVEE, ESEE and ADEDY. They discussed measures to support middle sized businesses, real economy and civil servants. Mr. Karamanlis committed himself not to impose any new taxes or special contributions to businesses while the government spokesman E. Antonaros repeated the government's firm position to support low income classes and strengthen economy through structural reforms.

Mr. Antonaros refused to comment on early election scenarios as well as positions expressed by ND senior officials, stressing that the government is doing its work. He launched sharp criticism against PASOK leader whom he labeled as onlooker of developments.

In an interview with state television channel NET, Yiannis Tragakis, secretary of ND party Parliamentary Group predicted that early elections would not be held as the majority of deputies objected.

Mr. Karamanlis question âreshuffle or early electionsâ is not the people's question said PASOK spokesman G. Papakonstantinou, adding that the Prime-minister's political time has ended.

The country can not withstand a long pre-election period and even more a Prime-minister who damages the country with his selections, stressed PASOK secretary Yiannis Ragousis in an interview with âHmerisiaâ newspaper..

ND and PASOK parties maintain election talks in order to prepare for radical reforms and create time to defuse peoples' dissatisfaction, stressed GCP deputy Yiannis Giokas speaking to state radio NET 105.8.

SYRIZA deputy Panagiotis Lafazanis said that the Prime-minister can call early elections at any time and under any pretext , as he has done it in the past.

Mr. Karamanlis is at a grave deadlock, reshuffle is too little, electoral confrontation too much, stressed LAOS.

News item: 26220

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