Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-04-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Early general elections on May 6

[02] Early general elections on May 6

[01] Early general elections on May 6

The closely watched and eagerly expected election will come two and a half years after socialist PASOK party swept to power with a wide majority, and six months after the same government, under ex-PM George Papandreou, stepped down to allow the formation of a transitional Cabinet under Papademos. The resulting three-party government -- PASOK, New Democracy and, initially, the small Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.O.S) -- faced the Herculean task of signing a new loan agreement (Memorandum II) with EC-ECB-IMF creditors and negotiating a PSI "haircut" with bondholders.

A bevy of recent opinion polls have shown an unprecedented fluidity in voters' preferences, with between five and eight parties expected to enter the 300-MP Parliament, and with a clear majority by one single party appearing remote, according to results.

An already shortened election season will begin, in essence, the week after Orthodox Easter on Sunday.

[02] Early general elections on May 6

Speaking during a cabinet meeting, he said that his government produced positive results leaving behind an "important legacy" considering that "in the past five months it became obvious that we can cooperate, combine viewpoints when necessary and put our differences aside making decisions for the good of the country."

Papademos stressed that in certain cases there were operational problems, particularly in the first two months, adding that "important decisions should be made immediately to complete and consolidate the effort for the reconstruction of the economy".

He said that the new Medium-Term Fiscal Strategy Framework 2013-2016 should be voted in parliament in June, while the new economic programme must be implemented, as well as, all structural reforms that are necessary preconditions for the sustainable growth of the Greek economy and the country's presence in the Eurozone.

Referring to the recapitalization of the banks, he said that all necessary terms will have to be created to ensure the liquidity of the economy.

He underlined that the immediate risk for a default has been averted and that the government has shaped the best possible conditions for the continuation of the efforts aimed at state reform, fiscal stability and competitive economy.

He called on the government ministers to continue their efforts until the election date stressing that important decisions need to be made and policies approved by parliament must be implemented.

"We have to present the new government with processed proposals allowing it to make its own decisions in the best possible way. We should hand over a state that operates fully," he said.

Greek voters will head to the polls on May 6 to elect a new government that will inherit the worst economic and financial crisis plaguing the east Mediterranean country since the Great Depression, following an announcement on Wednesday afternoon by interim Prime Minister Lucas Papademos.

The closely watched and eagerly expected election will come two and a half years after socialist PASOK party swept to power with a wide majority, and six months after the same government, under ex-PM George Papandreou, stepped down to allow the formation of a transitional Cabinet under Papademos. The resulting three-party government -- PASOK, New Democracy and, initially, the small Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.O.S) -- faced the Herculean task of signing a new loan agreement (Memorandum II) with EC-ECB-IMF creditors and negotiating a PSI "haircut" with bondholders.

A bevy of recent opinion polls have shown an unprecedented fluidity in voters' preferences, with between five and eight parties expected to enter the 300-MP Parliament, and with a clear majority by one single party appearing remote, according to results.

An already shortened election season will begin, in essence, the week after Orthodox Easter on Sunday

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