This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-europe-15609456
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Greece opposition chief demands PM's resignation over debt crisis | |
(40 minutes later) | |
Greece's main opposition leader has again insisted that Prime Minister George Papandreou must stand down to break political deadlock over the country's debt crisis. | |
Antonis Samaras of the New Democracy party said after meeting the president that if the PM resigned, "everything will take its course". | |
He did not state whether he would join a government of national unity as proposed by Mr Papandreou, but said he was "determined to help". | |
He has previously labelled the PM "dangerous" for Greece and demanded immediate elections. | |
But Mr Papandreou says elections must wait until a vital EU bailout package has been approved. | But Mr Papandreou says elections must wait until a vital EU bailout package has been approved. |
Two opinion polls published on Saturday suggested that Greeks would prefer the option of a national unity government to snap elections, Reuters news agency reported. | Two opinion polls published on Saturday suggested that Greeks would prefer the option of a national unity government to snap elections, Reuters news agency reported. |
'Dangerous' | 'Dangerous' |
President Karolos Papoulias urged the opposing sides to overcome their differences and work together to resolve a crisis that has jeopardised the entire euro project. | |
"Consensus is the one and only way," Mr Papoulias told the prime minister on Saturday, a few hours after Mr Papandreou had narrowly won a vote of confidence in parliament. | |
However, Mr Papandreou and Mr Samaras have offered radically different plans on how to tackle the political crisis. | However, Mr Papandreou and Mr Samaras have offered radically different plans on how to tackle the political crisis. |
Mr Samaras insisted snap elections, not a unity government led by Mr Papandreou, was the way forward. | Mr Samaras insisted snap elections, not a unity government led by Mr Papandreou, was the way forward. |
"We have not asked for any place in his government," Mr Samaras said on Saturday. "All we want is for Mr Papandreou to resign, because he has become dangerous for the country. We insist on immediate elections." | |
But Mr Papandreou said early elections would "have catastrophic consequences for the economy and for the Greek people". | But Mr Papandreou said early elections would "have catastrophic consequences for the economy and for the Greek people". |
He said a unity government needed several months in order to save the country from bankruptcy and safeguard its membership of the eurozone. | He said a unity government needed several months in order to save the country from bankruptcy and safeguard its membership of the eurozone. |
"Co-operation is necessary to guarantee - for Greece and for our partners - that we can honour our commitments," Mr Papandreou said at his meeting with President Papoulias. | "Co-operation is necessary to guarantee - for Greece and for our partners - that we can honour our commitments," Mr Papandreou said at his meeting with President Papoulias. |
"I am concerned that a lack of co-operation could trouble how our partners see our will and desire to remain in the central core of the European Union and the eurozone." | "I am concerned that a lack of co-operation could trouble how our partners see our will and desire to remain in the central core of the European Union and the eurozone." |
Default risk | Default risk |
There has been speculation that a new governing coalition could be led by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, after Mr Papandreou hinted that he would stand aside as PM if it would make progress easier. | There has been speculation that a new governing coalition could be led by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, after Mr Papandreou hinted that he would stand aside as PM if it would make progress easier. |
What went wrong in Greece?BACK {current} of {total} NEXT | What went wrong in Greece?BACK {current} of {total} NEXT |
Greece's mounting debt crisis and the implementation of austerity measures have proved hugely unpopular with the public, prompting widespread protests and strikes. | Greece's mounting debt crisis and the implementation of austerity measures have proved hugely unpopular with the public, prompting widespread protests and strikes. |
But if Greece defaults on its debts, the cost of borrowing would rocket for other countries, potentially leading to a new banking crisis. | But if Greece defaults on its debts, the cost of borrowing would rocket for other countries, potentially leading to a new banking crisis. |
On Monday, Mr Papandreou shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil by calling for a national referendum on the deal which they thought had been secured. | On Monday, Mr Papandreou shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil by calling for a national referendum on the deal which they thought had been secured. |
The vote was called off just days later, but only after triggering the wider financial and political crisis. | The vote was called off just days later, but only after triggering the wider financial and political crisis. |
Attention has also been focusing on Italy's huge debt burden, with fears that it could face its own crisis. | Attention has also been focusing on Italy's huge debt burden, with fears that it could face its own crisis. |
On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it could take a decade for Europe to resolve its debt crisis and that this could only be done by countries placing legal limits on their debts. | On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it could take a decade for Europe to resolve its debt crisis and that this could only be done by countries placing legal limits on their debts. |
"Everyone in Europe must make an effort to achieve all that is required," she said in comments posted on her website. | "Everyone in Europe must make an effort to achieve all that is required," she said in comments posted on her website. |
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso acknowledged it was possible that Greece could end up leaving the eurozone, but said it was "in their interests" to stay. | European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso acknowledged it was possible that Greece could end up leaving the eurozone, but said it was "in their interests" to stay. |
"I think the principle of a country leaving the euro is not a good one. But at the end, it depends on them being able to implement the decisions taken together," he said. | "I think the principle of a country leaving the euro is not a good one. But at the end, it depends on them being able to implement the decisions taken together," he said. |