Democratic Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis, one of Prime Minister and New Democracy Conservative leader Antonis Samaras’ coalition government, said he thinks there should be a shakeup of ministers but didn’t say if he wants any of his members to be in a new Greek cabinet.
He outlined his thoughts on the current government in an interview with the Sunday Real News newspaper in which he said, “I believe that a reshuffle should take place in July. I also think that the government should be smaller and reach the end of its four-year term,” Kouvelis said, underlining that there was no reason for early elections.
He said he will continue to give all his support to Samaras even though the two parties are ideological rivals and Kouvelis backed more pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions he had previously fought, as has the other government partner, the PASOK Socialists. The two parties have fallen to record low in polls, but he said he will continue to back Samaras, unless the premier calls for more austerity measures.
He said he strongly supported cooperation between the political parties as “necessary and mandatory for the country,” and also emphasized the need for immediate measures to combat unemployment, speed up reforms and promote the major structural reorganization needed in Greece’s economy and the public sector, although he didn’t offer any ideas how it could be done.
Replying to a proposal by PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, who suggested that PASOK and DIMAR run on a shared ticket in the next general elections, Kouvelis said his party was interested in “a reconstruction and regrouping of the progressive area with a European orientation.”
He noted that any convergence should be sought based on the development of a substantive dialogue on specific issues and not through “political gimmicks” and said he was not interested in blind collaboration. He said PASOK’s huge debt crisis was none of his business.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
