Pictures: www.tovima.gr
The European Right will support Antonis Samaras on his way to the final battle at the European elections on 25 May, which highlights the great effort made on the economic front.
According to information, the core of the European Union as well as Berlin and Brussels are considering a surprising move which will show the political support for the Greek Prime Minister – a summit will be held in Greece.
On his way to the European elections, Samaras will have continuous contacts with European leaders and German Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to arrive in Athens.
The summit of the European Union, which is being discussed to be held in Greece a few days before the elections, will represent European leaders’ support for Samaras.
In case this happens, there will be a meeting of the European People's Party before the summit, featuring European parties in the centre-right - yet another event which will strengthen Samaras’s pro-European profile, and will be used by New Democracy in order to demonstrate the anti-European profile of SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras.
Because of the Greek Presidency of the European Union, Samaras will appear in the pre-election period, which has already begun, with leaders of the centre-right supporting him.
Merkel’s expected visit will have the clear purpose to strengthen the Greek Government and to support the Prime Minister.
These pre-election visits are common for the European People's Party, which organizes congresses and meetings (which are practically parties) with the participation of European leaders in countries where there is an electoral battle.
But the idea of a summit in Greece has other dimensions and is expected to create a communication environment from which Samaras can take an advantage.
If this happens, the Prime Minister will expect statements supporting his policy a few days before the European elections.
The congress of the European People's Party will also be organized in Athens. At this congress, it will be decided who the European centre-right will nominate for the position of the President of the European Commission, and, most likely, this will be Jean-Claude Juncker.
Jean-Claude Juncker, picture: www.imerisia.gr
It was decided that the European People's Party will organise a congress in Dublin on 5 - 6 March, and the congress in Athens will be held in the Music Chamber right after the 6th European Conference of Cities and Regions. Besides the Prime Minister, the congress in Athens will also be attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos and the Prefect of Attica Yiannis Sgouros, as well as by:
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, President of the European Parliament and candidate for the European Commission of the European Socialist Party Martin Schulz, President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer, and President of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) of the European Union Ramon Luis Valcárcel. It is not yet known whether the Italian Prime Minister will attend the congress.