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Reaching an agreement between PASOK and New Democracy to form a transitional government represents a Gordian knot, according to local analysts. At the same time, it is more likely that the government of George Papandreou will fail to obtain a vote of confidence at midnight.

Expectations are now that George Papandreou will end up caught in the middle of "crossfire" under pressure to resign as Prime Minister in order to pave the way for the formation of a national unity government. Actually, this is the condition the MPs from his party have laid down to support the vote of confidence. "In fact, the vote of confidence means a vote for his withdrawal from the premiership," they state.

There is strong pressure from Brussels on George Papandreou and Antonis Samaras for them to agree to immediately form a coalition government. "Otherwise, Greece will end up outside the euro area," warned European leaders.

They fear within PASOK that if no agreement is reached to create a coalition government by tonight, George Papandreou could use the confidence vote to remain in power as long as possible.

The Council of Ministers is trying to initiate talks with New Democracy today to be able to use them as an argument for opposing lawmakers and force them to give their votes. They still believe that reaching an agreement with Antonis Samaras will not be easy, because there are serious differences regarding the nature and mandate of the transitional government.

But even if the Minister of Finance, Evangelos Venizelos, managed to persuade lawmakers around him to vote for the government, it would not be sure that the necessary number of votes would be collected.
 
In their fear that they might soon bid farewell to their ministerial posts some cabinet members have forgotten their good manners and made extremely vulgar and sexist remarks against their colleagues of the fair sex, who dared to declare themselves against the risky moves taken by the Prime Minister. According to information published in different Greek media, when during yesterday's session of the PASOK parliamentary group the deputy Eva Kaili started to protest that she was not given the floor, Vice-minister Socratis Ksinidis said, "Oh, take it easy, you with the garter."

When another colleague of his saw Elena Panariti passing close to him, he said, "Where is this p ...going? Isn’t she ashamed? We have made her an MP! And she has an opinion?"

Indicative of the complete chaos and destruction in the PASOK parliamentary group is the fact that even the particularly serious minister Haris Kastanidis has allowed himself to make obscene comments about his two female colleagues: Milena Apostolaki, who left the parliamentary group of the ruling party two days ago, and Eva Kaili. The minister made an ironic remark about the "political stature" of the young MP from Thessaloniki and the legislative activity of Milena Apostolaki in the Ministry of Agriculture, which was limited to the "protection of animals."