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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-04
CONTENTS
[01] Karamanlis congratulates Papandreou
[02] Karamanlis to step down from ND helm
[01] Karamanlis congratulates Papandreou
Prime Minister and New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis
telephoned PASOK party leader George Papandreou on Sunday evening at
approximately 22:00 and congratulated him for his party's victory in
Sunday's snap election, while wishing him every success.
According to reports, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero also
called to congratulate Papandreou, as did former Greek premier Costas
Simitis, Papandreou's predecessor at PASOK's helm
[02] Karamanlis to step down from ND helm
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Sunday evening announced that he
will step down from the helm of his New Democracy party, in the wake of
a same-day crushing electoral defeat and main opposition's PASOK
landslide victory.
He said a party congress will be convened in a month's time, where he
will not stand for re-election as party leader.
Karamanlis, 53, served as premier since March 2004, winning general
elections twice (2004 and 2007), losing once by a slim margin in April
2000 before Sunday�s convincing loss.
He spoke during a nationally televised address at the Zappeion Hall in
Athens, after first conceding defeat and phone PASOK leader George
Papandreou.
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