Galery

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Failing to elect a president is political blackmail, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras argued in an interview for the state television Nerit tonight. He again urged the MPs to vote for president and stressed that none of them could pretend they were unaware of what was actually happening.

Two days before the final third ballot on Monday, Samaras spoke about the risks of early parliamentary elections, which he said would put the country in a perilous situation. The PM pointed out that the current political instability should stop and reiterated his plea for a consensual vote for president.

Samaras also argued that the constituents prefer to avoid early elections as they "understand where this bizarre adventure could lead." The PM stressed: "I did and am still doing everything I can so that a president of the republic be elected as this is what national interests demand... if the first phase of the sweeping constitutional reform were to be completed."

We did everything possible to keep Greece standing, noted Samaras, and went on to lambaste the deadly hazard created by the silly bravado and the risky shenanigans, which might lead to a split between Greece and its partners. "Those who seek something of this kind, are either deluded, or serve foreign interests," he said.

The PM told Parliament that those who refuse to elect a president collude with the Tsipras-Kammenos duo, i.e. with political blackmail.

He emphasised that each MP "shall be responsible for his/her vote and the possible consequences thereof." The political instability should be terminated. He urged the representatives of the Greek people "to disperse the clouds hanging menacingly over our country."

Samaras predicted that the nation and history would forever remember those who cast the ‘abstained’ ballot.

The PM attacked SYRIZA by qualifying their intentions as the quintessential ‘credit event’. He defined SYRIZA’s programme as entirely consisting of unilateral actions.

While responding to a question, Samaras showed confidence that New Democracy would emerge as the winner in eventual snap elections. "Even though elections would be convenient for me, I want to see the ship safely into port," added the Prime Minister.