Athens News Agency: News in English, 07-02-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] PASOK leader calls for early elections

[01] PASOK leader calls for early elections

Speaking to reporters after a party's political council meeting, Papandreou described as a "stalemate" the present situation "created by government policies", adding that "elections are the only way out" and that the time has come "for the people to speak."

"We will not allow the impasses of the (ruling) New Democracy party to become impasses of the country," the PASOK leader stressed.

Papandreou said that his party's "struggle is a relentless struggle and will be waged together with the people and for the people aiming at a fairer society."

"In this struggle, PASOK places itself at the forefront in an orderly manner, collectively, responsibly and with a programme," he said.

He said that the government "has fully completed its cycle, has grown old before its time and causes damage to the country." Papandreou accused Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis of "parodying even the constitution and occupying himself with a party fiesta which has no sense and does not concern the country and citizens."

"The issue of the constitutional revision has come to an end," Papandreou added.

Interior minister responds

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, replying to Papandreou on the issue of constitutional revision, said he wished he will become wiser.

"As if the walkout of PASOK and the direct undermining of the constitution were not enough, Mr. Papandreou reached the point of saying that the revision is over. We inform Mr. Papandreou -and he should have asked officials of his party who are aware of constitutional clauses- that the revision is continuing and the next Parliament, whether he likes it or not, will be a revisory one and he will be called on to assume his responsibilities. We hope that until then he will become wiser," the minister said.

Referring to Papandreou's reference to a "parody", Pavlopoulos observed that "the parody is his own and that of his party which, after submitting a proposal on the revision of the constitution, walked out with its internal party problems being the only cause. And it would have reached the verge of a comedy if it had not observed a position that violates the constitution in an unprecedented way in time."

Lastly, Pavlopoulos said that "revision is carried out by Parliament, whether PASOK and its deputies are present or not."

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