Greek Leaders assures nation with reforms

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Greek Elections 2007 Debate Part 12

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Submitted by Nksagar on Tue, 2007-09-18 04:07.
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• Greece
• Greece election

Greece PM Costas Karamanlis of National democratic
party and George Papandreou,opposition leader of PASOK party spoke of
giving their national much needed reforms and privatization touch.

Karamanlis
thanking his voters after reelected said, with 152 Parliament seats
said while Speaking in a brief nationally televised address from the
Zappeion Hall in downtown Athens after midnight, Karamanlis again used
the leitmotif of "reforms", saying the people have provided him and his
government with a clear mandate for a "new, more dynamic beginning".

Karamanlis added that he feels a "double responsibility" for making
his government better and avoiding mistakes in the future; one that is
more effective and closer to the citizens. Re-elected Karamanlis said
all of the government's commitments towards the fire-ravaged areas and
individuals will be met, while he insisted on adhering to a moderate
political climate and avoidance of extremism and divisiveness. "I would
like to thank you (voters) for your trust. Today, you spoke and spoke
clearly and loudly. You chose the path that the country will follow in
the coming years You gave a clear mandate to ND to continue with
changes and reforms that the country needs; a mandate for a new and
dynamic beginning I ask you to vote for stable government. This
government now exists, it is the one backed by a social majority with a
strong political volition, one accountable to its commitments," he said
Additionally, Karamanlis said his government will emphasise efforts to
fight poverty and maintain a stable economy.

George Papandreou,opposition leader his party PASOK received 102
Parliament seats and is Main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement
(PASOK) President George Papandreou announced his intention to ask
party members to renew their confidence to his person in order, as he
said, to proceed with major changes within the party, hours after PASOK
came in a disappointing second to ruling New Democracy (ND).

Addressing a post-election press conference, Papandreou admitted
that the message received from voters in Sunday's general elections was
that the "people consider that we also share responsibilities for the
situation prevailing in the country." He said the election was
"unfavorable" for PASOK, which "faces a crucial turning point", adding:
"We will evaluate the people's message ... We waged our battle, but we
have not managed to win ... we all took part in it, we all had a role
to play and responsibilities to share, foremost of all, I myself." "The
broad democratic and progressive party needs deep reforms and fights
for a just society," he said, adding: "We are not all the same and it
would be good to prove it through positions, practices, self-criticism
and high moral standard." http://www.hri.org/