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PASOK and New Democracy in a battle for public opinion

05 June 2011 / 16:06:15  GRReporter
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Video report on the work of the government in the last 20 months has been uploaded to the site of the Greek Government, in a particularly critical moment, given the upcoming vote on the medium-term program and the turmoil that it caused both in the government and the parliamentary group PASOK. The video stresses that during this period "things have been done that were not made for years", mentioning in particular the support mechanism to which the country had to go to "in order to avoid bankruptcy." "We have provided an unprecedented mechanism for the support amounting to 110 billion Euros and in order to secure the future of our children, we achieved the largest deficit reduction deal ever negotiated in an euro zone country", stresses the video and adds: "In order to emerge from the crisis better, as a country and as citizens, leaving behind everything that was bad for us and fighting for a new mentality, with greater transparency at all levels by passing all appointments through the Supreme Council recruitment, by uploading all signatures and solutions on the Internet and by creating an independent statistical authority”.

The video also mentions changes in the budgetary sector, the Kalikratis program, reduction of operating costs in the public sector, reduction of the state enterprises deficit by 20 % in 2010, reduction of the cost of public hospitals, electronic prescribing and reform of the social security system. Also mentioned in the video are price reductions of thousands of medicines, reduction of the tax burden on incomes up to 40,000 Euros, the fight against tax evasion by imposing fines of 3.4 billion Euros in 2010.

In turn, the leader of New Democracy Antonis Samaras is preparing to use experienced party members, a group of nearly 15 people, who will be the impact group of the party in the media. At a time when many within New Democracy are talking about "anemic" performance of the party in the media, Samaras has received proposals to establish a group that will operate informally, will have common goals, will be expressed as a whole, and will lead the battles in the media. 

Generally it is believed that majority of New Democracy members, who give out statements, are not media friendly and do not have political charm, and the assumption that a daily appearance by the party spokesman Yiannis Mihelakis, is not enough. 

In order to be able to score points in the field of communication, Antonis Samaras looks ready to adjust his strategy and to proceed with the creation of a group that will represent a mix of representatives of the "old guards" and new, uncorrupt people. It is a common opinion among the leadership that the burden cannot be undertaken solely by the leader of the party, who in any case is its strongest trump, by the speaker of the party and by a small group of parliament members who do a relatively good job in the media. Therefore, after the meetings that will take place in Europe in the upcoming days, it is expected for Samaras to make "a tour of the staff, as senior party members call it. 

One after another, prominent members of New Democracy will pass through the doors of the Office of Antonis Samaras to propose their views and to discuss political issues, but also to determine whether he is willing to show activity in a similar formation. Since the prevailing opinion is that events will develop quickly and the balance of power will change soon, the establishment of the "blue" party must happen immediately. And this is because, as members of the party say, New Democracy will immediately begin to record media points, since management believes that the political points have already accumulated in the fight against the memorandum. 

There are persons who are tipped as "constants" for the media battle, such as former speaker Panos Panayotopoulos, heads of departments Αris Spiliotopoulos, Κyriakos Mitsotakis, Κonstantinos Hatzigakis, Christos Zois, the Secretary of programs Εvripidis Stiliyanidis, Secretary for Policy Planning Μaksimos Harakopoulos, New Democracy secretary  Αndreas Likourendzos, general secretary of the parliamentary group Κostas Tasoulas, parliamentarians Κostas Μarkopulos and Nikos Dendias, younger members such as the deputy head of sectors Μiltiyadis Varvitsiotis, Notis Mitarakis and Christos Staykouras, MEPs with experience in communicating with the media  George Koumoutsakos, MEPs like Fotini Pipili. 

Also considered is the idea to mobilize more members of the "old guards", such as the director of the foundation "Konstantinos Karamanlis" Εvangelos Meimarakis, as it is considered to be necessary for them to continue to appear regularly and when appropriate advisers Antonis Samaras - Dimitris Stamatis and Christos Lazaridis. It is not out of the question, however, to mobilize also younger members who have experience with the media, such as Deputy Secretary for International Relations Μariana Pirgioti. Proposals have been submitted to take steps for a more active presence in this battle of the two vice-presidents Dimitris Avramopoulos and Stavros Dimas. 

What New Democracy wants to achieve is to have a stronger management center, which will form a strong political line. Of course, what should be provided before the group can be formed is to have full agreement of the participants with the strategy of Antonis Samaras. Because, as one of the experienced members says, "if you do not believe in the common goal is not only difficult to have success, but mainly to convince the other." 

Tags: PoliticsSocietyNewsEconomy Greece New Democracy Andonis Samaras
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