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Elections will be held on 6 May, said Prime Minister Lucas Papademos during the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. Under the constitution, the next Greek Parliament will commence on 17 May.

Lucas Papademos subsequently met with President Carlos Papoulias asking him to dismiss the current Parliament and announce elections. Official statements were made neither before, nor after the meeting.

In his address to the Greek people, Lucas Papademos said that his government's contribution is significant. "It became clear during those five months that we are able to work together, combine our positions when necessary, put aside our differences and make decisions for the good of the country." He acknowledged that the work of the government was not always smooth, especially during the first two months.

Lucas Papademos stated that the mid-term programme for the 2013-2016 budgetary strategy must be submitted to parliament in June. He stressed that implementation of the new economic programme and carrying out the vital reforms for restoring competitiveness are crucial for Greece to remain in the euro area and for its economic development.

At the same time, the parties are preparing for the elections. They have already started to submit the ballots with their candidates. In particular, with regard to PASOK, there will be many new faces because those who until yesterady had been leading political figures and constituted an integral part of political life for decades, have said they will not run.

Aria Agazza, sports journalist for public television, made a surprising move from PASOK to New Democracy. She left the Socialist parliamentary group a few days ago, without declaring her intentions. In the same laconic way, it was announced today that she had joined New Democracy. "In practice, she joined the same party," was one of the comments made.
 
The leader of LAOS, Georgios Karatzaferis used the familiar practice of attracting persons known from the media to his party. The new party spokesman is the journalist George Kirtsos, known for his leftist beliefs. Actress Vana Barba joined LAOS together with him. She has leftist beliefs too and she was even communist in her youth. Later, she was a member of PASOK. Years ago, she was even elected councillor in one of the capital municipalities with the party ballot.
 
Democratic Alliance leader Dora Bakogiannis announced the nomination of George Bitros, professor at the University of Economics, with the main ballot. In an attempt to strengthen the liberal profile of the party, she announced that two former presidents of Liberal Alliance - Fotis Perlikos and George Sariyanidis, and the president of the Centre for Liberal Studies Dimitris Skalkos have joined the party too.

"For us this is a very important step because as a member of the Democratic Alliance, Mr. Bitros will be able to cooperate with other members who believe in the liberal views and the market economy," said Dora Bakogiannis, adding that former Prime Minister Andreas Andrianopoulos will be the leader of Forum for Greece.

George Bitros said in turn that Greece has endless prospects and they expect a political force to emerge that will create the prerequisites for their development.

"One such force is the Democratic Alliance," he said, calling at the same time all liberal and reformist forces in Greece to unite with the party of Dora Bakogiannis.

"At this point, the fragmentation of liberal and personal strategies do not provide any opportunities and benefit only conservative forces," he said. His statement caused a number of comments on the lack of willingness for pre-election cooperation between the Democratic Alliance, Stefanos Manos’ party Drasi and other liberal formations like "ReCreate Greece."