Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-10-22

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

CONTENTS

[01] First official results of second round of local government elections announced

[02] PM says gov't to give new impetus to regions

[03] PASOK leader sees 'change in political scene'

[01] First official results of second round of local government elections announced

Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos saidd on Sunday evening that the run-offs in the second round of the local government elections were "a complete success and ended at 7 .p.m. without any problerms."

The interior minister stressed that "the electoral process for the 2006 prefectural and municipal elections was exemplarly of the quality of our democracy and the institution of local government, which is the great winner of this electoral process."

[02] PM says gov't to give new impetus to regions

Karamanlis expressed his thanks and congratulations to the Interior, Public Administration and Decentralisation Ministry for its "responsible and coordinated work."

Karamanlis spoke about "the maturity of Greek society" and underlined that it constitutes "an extremely positive development that fanaticism and extremities of the past have retreated."

The prime minister also underlined that the government "will closely cooperate without discriminations with all those who were elected."

He also underlined that the government with the national strategic framework it has formulated will give 80 per cent of the European Union (EU) and national funds, that is, about 36 billion euros, to the regions.

The prime minister stressed that it is the responsibility of all for the funds to be properly managed and with transparency.

Karamanlis, giving his political stigma, noted that his government is proceeding with "consensus and responsibility, far from dogmatism, ideologies and prejudice" and stressed that it seeks "the composition of views without compromises with conservatism and stagnation, which certain individuals indirectly or direcly seek."

He noted that his government steadfastly continues in the strategy of changes and reforms, underlining that a dialogue is opening for reforms in the coming period.

[03] PASOK leader sees 'change in political scene'

Reiterating his statements made last Sunday, the main opposition leader referred to a "change in the political scene" and an "abolition of the difference" between the ruling party and PASOK.

Papandreou also waged a broad attack against government policies saying that the election result "constitutes a rejection of the clientele rationale of the government". He also announced that his party and himself "will take an initiative in the near future on all problems faced by citizens and mainly in the education sector."

"The aim of the Movement, starting with the local government election results, is victory in the next general elections," Papandreou said.

KKE SG says results of local gov't elections 'negative for the people'

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary-General Aleka Papariga on Sunday evening underlined that "the overall electoral result also after the second round (of the local government elections) is negative for the people, due to the high percentages garnered by the candidates of the two major parties (ruling New Denocracy and main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement)."

Papariga defended the decision of the party's Central Committe "for a blank or invalid vote in the second round where the candidates of bi-partisanship contested."

Referring to the high percentages received by the two major parties, the KKE Secretary-General said that "from one point of view this is also a positive side of the elections in the sense that people will become aware in the aim of breaking bi-partisanship."

Papariga finally said that "the KKE will continue with optimism its struggle, despite the great strength of bi-partisanship."

Synaspismos leader satisfied with election results

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (Synaspismos) leader Alekos Alavanos expressed his satisfaction on Sunday evening over the results of the second round of the local government elections regarding candidates backed by his party.

In statements to the press, Alavanos said his party, in cooperation with "other alternative, leftist forces" suceeded in electing mayors in the Athens suburbs of Nea Smirni, Kessariani, Elliniko, Nea Philathelphis and Keratea in the broader Attica region.

The Synaspismos leader also congratulated the newly elected mayors and prefects.

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