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Meanwhile, Papandreou spoke of a battle led by PASOK on three fronts: against the international markets, against a conservative Europe with slow reflexes and against the inner status quo and views of the past.

The leader of PASOK also mentioned the war waged against him during those two years. "I was condemned as no other politician. I ignored the political price because I know how to say "no" to a real enemy ", he said.

He also said that most media rely on people's anger. "Everyone who has accidentally grabbed a microphone goes out and speaks whatever comes to their minds" added Papandreou.

Antonis Samaras: We are facing a great danger

"Our country is facing great danger, our freedom, independence and identity are in danger," said in turn the leader of New Democracy Antonis Samaras.

"All tissues of a living economy, the market, consumption, confidence have collapsed, and with them our hopes for tomorrow," said Samaras.

"We insist that the recipe of the memorandum was a catastrophic error. We do not change our position. Our choice was justified, our position remains the same, but we must prevent this enormous threat in order to be able to move forward ", he said.

The leader of New Democracy also said that his party will ask for immediate dismissal of parliament and early elections after the signing of the bonds exchange. He warned that the greatest danger to society is for it to explode if elections are not held. The position of Greece in the negotiations can be strengthened only through elections.

"The main thing right now is to vote on the new contract for a loan," said Samaras and urged parliament members to fulfil their duty to the motherland.

"I cannot imagine my country with empty supermarket shelves, no gasoline, no medicines", he said pointing to the consequences of a possible bankruptcy.

"In order to overcome the crisis, however, we need something more. A reliable party, New Democracy," said Samaras, by also admitting that his party has made mistakes as well.
Antonis Samaras criticized the PASOK government by saying that he had warned it many times about the catastrophic consequences of the memorandum. However, Samaras criticized Europe as well. "Now this is the Europe of punishment, not Europe of solidarity," he said.

"We are still paying off Papandreou’s destructive idea of a referendum," added Antonis Samaras.

Εvangelos Venizelos: Greece might make historical mistakes

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos warned with an even more dramatic tone about the potentially catastrophic consequences that would be possible for the country if it votes "against" the new memorandum.

"Tired and desperate Greece is facing the danger of allowing historical mistakes", Venizelos warned at a meeting of the PASOK parliamentary group.

"The real dilemma regarding the new programme resulting from the agreement of 26 October, is - to make the sacrifices laid down in it, or to make more sacrifices and end up with national humiliation, layoffs, and poverty," said Venizelos.

Venizelos rejected the alternative solutions of chaotic or coordinated bankruptcy, by noting that in both cases those solutions will be accompanied by further measures, which will be taken "with a gun pressed against the forehead," and even more severe pension and salary cuts .

According to Venizelos, although most Greeks understand that there is no other solution, that the new programme must be approved and implemented, unfortunately there are also those who do not want to share the responsibility for difficult but necessary and positive solutions.

"Perhaps they are confident that these decisions will be accepted anyway, because this shows the balance of power in parliament", he said regarding those who "can afford to avoid this bitter cup."

"Let us be honest and responsible, let us give hope to the people, because if we bend now, no one will forgive us later", said Venizelos.

George Koutroumanis: The memorandum is our only choice

A call to the PASOK parliamentary group to vote "for" the memorandum was sent also by Labour Minister George Koutroumanis, saying that this way we "preserve the hope to save and later on to improve, the situation."

"By voting against the memorandum this will reduce salaries by 50 or 60 percent, together with all other bankruptcy consequences," warned Koutroumanis.

"Do we really understand what bankruptcy means for the pensions of the Agricultural insurance organisation?" wondered the Labour Minister, adding that those, already anyway low, pensions will disappear completely.