Galery

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Maria Spassova

At the election eve in the international press center in Zapion all political reporters and all foreign correspondents have gathered to discuss the elections. The most mentioned name? No, it is not the one of the winner Georgios Papandreou. The most mentioned name is the one of Kostas Karamanlis. Unanimously this is Karamanlis’ big night. The night has its big winner, who undoubtedly is Papandreou but it also has its big loser and this is Karamanlis. The questions are many. What will he do? Will he resign? Will he announce an urgent party congress?

The ones who blame him are not few…the ones who think he resigned too early. Couldn’t he follow the Tony Blair model? Couldn’t he pass the power to the next one in line? Why did he announce elections at a moment when he had already undertaken unpopular measures and knew he is way behind his socialist opponents? Sworn New Democracy supporters cry in front of the Zapion hall. They are obviously disappointed by New Democracy’s biggest failure in its history. “PASOK did not win the elections, New Democracy lost them,” said everyone.

Everybody was expecting New Democracy’s press conference. First ones to come are parliament chairman Dimitris Sifoulyas and minister of education Aris Spiliotopoulos. Following them are Dira Bakoyanni, minister of culture Andonis Samaras and minister of health Dimitris Avramopoulos. Few minutes later – government spokesman Evangelos Andonaros and New Democracy spokesman Georgios Koumoutzakos. Few minutes later his car approached the international press center. He was accompanied only by his chief secretary Lefteris Zagorotis. Even his wife Natasha was not there.

Karamanlis did not stop and went straight to the press conference tribune. Everybody was expecting to see who will sit beside him. No one. On one of his sides standing were Avramopoulos, Samaras and company and on the other Bakoyanni and company. The hall is silent without anyone asking silence from the journalists. Everybody knows that this is the most dramatic part of the evening. The Prime Minister starts to talk.

“I want to thank all citizens, who in such hard economic and political times, supported us. With full responsibility I presented to them the hard decisions, which need to be taken in order to strengthen the economy. I want to greet Georgios Papandreou for his victory and as every Greek to wish him luck,” said Kostas Karamanlis. “As chairman of New Democracy I had the honor to lead the party for 4 election campaigns. In 2000 we significantly increased the percentage of our supporters. In 2004 we won the elections and in 2007 we were trusted once more to continue the reforms,” continued the Prime Minister.

“Today we presented to all Greek citizens our policy – hard but absolutely necessary for overcoming the crises. We presented a realistic and least problematic plan as a sole opportunity to restore the economy after 2011,” admitted Karamanlis. “The citizens did not accept this plan and I respect their opinion. They have the last word.” Also admitted Karamanlis. “I personally believe that this is the politics Greece needs. My only strength has always been Greeks’ support. This is why I take full responsibility of today’s loss,” said the great politician. He announced an emergent congress of the party in a month, as its statute says. “I will not run for the chairman position but I will always be among the first lines and I will never abandon my party,” also said he.