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The meeting of political leaders in the presidency lasted more than six hours

28 November 2015 / 23:11:07  GRReporter
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The meeting of party leaders with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos turned into a marathon that lasted over six hours. The six political leaders failed to agree on the social security system and the constitutional amendments. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras came up with a proposal to set up two committees: one dealing with the social security system and the other one – with the constitutional amendments. Each committee will include one representative from each political party. New Democracy and PASOK, however, flatly rejected the proposal. Potami's leader also spoke against the social security system committee, but left a loophole on the second committee, contingent on the passing of a new electoral law in 2016.

Prime Minister Tsipras again took over, to stress the need of creating a new national front designed to warrant the viability of the social security system and avert the cutting of basic pensions. For the purpose, Alexis Tsipras urged political leaders to come up with a joint statement listing the points of unity among them. The statement is expected to contain shared ideas on the security system, the refugee crisis and the electoral system.

After the meeting, which started at 12 a.m. and only ended after 6 p.m., the Independent Greeks leader Panos Kamenos was the first one to emerge from the presidency building and make a statement. He was followed by Union of Centrists leader Vassilis Levendis, who said he had requested the forming of a common government composed of all parliamentary parties, given the fragility of the majority of SYRIZA and the Independent Greeks.

Potami's president Stavros Theodorakis said he had told Alexis Tsipras that the road ahead outlined by him was the wrong one. "Potami will stay away from a government of SYRIZA and the Independent Greeks where it would have to play the third pole," he added, and said he was against the formation of a grand coalition government.

PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata argued she believed in dialogue and political agreement, but that they required a seriousness of attitude. "We will not become accomplices in PR tricks," she said, adding that the PM's proposals on the Social Security system were rejected.

New Democracy's interim leader Yannis Plakiotakis pointed out that the government is looking for ways out of problems it had created on its own. He also maintained his party wouldn't take part in PR events.

Tags: meeting leaders political parties President Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras
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