Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou calls for 'new beginning'

[02] Parties react to snap election

[01] Papandreou calls for 'new beginning'

Papandreou also said the current government has twice won voters' trust and a government mandate but never honored that mandate, charging that it alone bears responsibility for what he called the "deep crisis that the country is facing".

"Our proposal for the future of Greece is built on a grand vision, one that we can all turn into reality, together ... we have the knowledge, we have the political volition; we know the problems and we have proposed feasible solutions, ones that are just and respect the lives and hopes of the Greek people..." he said, speaking from PASOK headquarters in downtown Athens.

Among others, he said PASOK has a development plan and a way-out of the economic crisis, pointedly adding that "we have the power and boldness to clash with every establishment that keeps our country bound."

[02] Parties react to snap election

"The country's plutocracy, the businesspeople and, of course, both their parties, New Democracy and PASOK, are aiming from these elections, each for itself, the emergence of a strong government, a government capable of providing a breakthrough, not for the people, but for the unimpeded profit-making of capital. A government capable of taking new, more barbaric, more savage measures against the working people, at the expense of working people," she said.

Papariga further said that "we must spoil their plans and early elections are a good opportunity. Neither ND nor PASOK are in a position to take measures for the people's benefit, they do not want, they cannot, and in this sense the only hope that the people have is to spoil their plans, to condemn both, to weaken them and bring the people, the popular movement a step forward, in a position of attack to confront the new storm that is coming."

Synaspismos

Coalition of the Left (Synaspismos) party leader Alexis Tsipras said "the only response to the crisis is a liberal programme that will build a shield of solidarity and social protection.

"The Karamanlis government collapsed under the weight of its deadlocked policy," he said.

LA.OS

Finally, Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party leader George Karatzaferis, commenting on the premier's address, said that "in a difficult situation the prime minister chose to escape. Fortunately, for the party and the country, reserves exist."

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