Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-04

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader on anniversary of party's founding

[01] PASOK leader on anniversary of party's founding

"This is not a gathering; it's a popular mandate for a new beginning, a new start. Today we unite our voices, the people demand the best; the people deserve the best. Greece can do better, it can take another road."

"Andreas Papandreou showcased a Greece of national independence and justice, founding and forging a strong and united democratic party. Costas Simitis (the former prime minister) brought Greece closer to Europe and the world," Papandreou added.

Additionally, Papandreou again criticised the New Democracy (ND) government for its policies, saying it "insults the intelligence of the Greek people," while citing what he said were increases in unemployment and inflation, falling incomes and high rates of borrowing.

A day earlier on Saturday, Papandreou visited the western town of Nafpaktos, where he met with the party's candidate for the Aetoloakarnania prefecture and other mayoral candidates. Local government elections will be held on Oct. 15.

Opinion poll on PASOK

In a related development, the Sunday edition of an Athens daily unveiled an opinion poll focusing entirely on PASOK supporters' views concerning the party and its leadership. The poll was published by the "Eleftherotypia" daily.

Specifically, an overwhelming percentage of respondents, 93.8 percent and 92.7 percent, respectively, want the party to clearly demonstrate its policy differences with ruling New Democracy and to clearly delineate its own programme.

Moreover, 91.8 percent of respondents backed the idea of Papandreou exercising a "firmer leadership".

On a scale of one to 10, late PASOK founder Andreas Papandreou earned 9.3; two-time premier Costas Simitis 7.9 and George Papandreou 7.8. Respondents said PASOK's best stint in the opposition was from 1974 to 1981; its best term in office from 1981 to 1985 and its worst from 2000 to 2004.

Asked about two timely developments within the main opposition party, 39.5 percent said George Papandreou's decision to expel former FinMin Yiannos Papantoniou was incorrect; 35.5 said it was necessary, and 25.2 declined to answer.

Finally, 74 percent of respondents disagreed with a high-profile statement reportedly made late last month by Pangalos during a central committee meeting, namely, that PASOK after 2000 "demolished" the country.

The opinion poll was conducted by the GPO firm on a sample of 600 respondents.

Caption: George Papandreou in Patras, on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006. ANA-MPA / Y. Korbaki.

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article