New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras proposed a 'national salvation' government during his statements in Zappion Hall on Sunday night, after a first estimate of the final election results made it clear that his party had come first in Greece's repeat elections. "There will be no further adventures," Samaras stressed, adding "we will honour the country's commitments". "The Greek people voted for the European course and for us to remain in the euro. They voted for the policies that will bring jobs, growth and justice for the Greek citizen," Samaras stressed, inviting all forces that agree with these goals to participate in a government of 'national salvation'. "Greece must be governed and will be governed," he underlined, noting that Greece's position in Europe would not be cast into doubt. "It is an important moment for Greece and for Europe," he added.
Samaras emphasised that the government must bring about growth, while noting that it will respect and honour the country's commitments and signatures, and ensure that the state had "continuity and consistency". "The citizens honored us with their vote. I want to thank the Greek people. We told the people the truth and they listened. I promise I will fully honour the faith the Greeks have placed in us, that we will work with our European partners in order to complement our economic policy with growth and tackle unemployment. Our aim is to emerge from the crisis with social cohesion, with jobs, with justice and security. We will keep to what we said, Greece must be governed and will be governed. ND was and is a force for responsibility," he said.
"A new day has dawned for Greece," Radical Leftist Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras told cheering supporters after a clear picture of the final result had emerged and showed that left-wing SYRIZA's percentage had soared relative to May, consolidating its position as Greece's second-largest political force. He promised a tough opposition to the government that would arise and stressed that events would vindicate his party. Tsipras noted that SYRIZA had undertaken a "difficult and exciting journey to defend the pride and dignity of the Greek people, put an end to the Memorandum and restore hope". He noted that the party had struggled against an unprecedented attack of extortion and terror, what he called an "unholy alliance of the forces of yesterday" that had done its utmost to extinguish the people's desire for justice and dignity, both within and outside of Greece.
Tsipras said he was proud of the way his party had withstood these attacks and multiplied its percentage in the last 1.5 months. He noted that, even though it had failed to get first place, it was now the main body of a popular, progressive anti-bailout majority of the people.
SYRIZA's leader said that he had communicated with New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras and congratulated him on his party's victory, adding that ND was able to form a government based on the popular mandate and on its own policy choices. He said SYRIZA would be 'present' at developments as main opposition and would not 'give up' to anyone the possibility of intervention in developments. He stressed, also, that the austerity measures and the selling off of public wealth could not proceed because the government lacked popular legitimacy. "The Memorandum is a non-viable economic plan and its rejection is a popular mandate," he emphasised.
"Our proposal for the overthrow of the Memorandum is the only viable solution for Greece and Europe," he underlined, stressing that SYRIZA would continue the battle on Monday with the conviction that the future did not belong to the 'terrified' by those that brought hope.
In statements after the election result emerged, PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos repeated the need for a 'co-responsibility' government that will include both the Radical Leftist Coalition (SYRIZA) and the Democratic Left (Dem. Ar) parties, in addition to PASOK and New Democracy. He also stressed the need to accelerate the process for forming a coalition government, saying that Greece have a government on Monday. He proposed that the party leaders eligible to receive an exploratory mandate to form a government should ask President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias to bypass the exploratory mandate phase for the top three parties and go directly to the second phase, the meeting of political party leaders.
In Brussels, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso issued a joint statement on the result of the elections in Greece, expressing hope that a government would soon be formed. They stressed that they "continue to stand by Greece as a member of the EU family and of the Euro area". "The Greek people have spoken. We fully respect its democratic choice. We are hopeful that the election results will allow a government to be formed quickly," the statement read.
"Today, we salute the courage and resilience of the Greek citizens, fully aware of the sacrifices which are demanded from them to redress the Greek economy and build new, sustainable growth for the country," they added and indicated their readiness to work with the new government and support the continued efforts of Greece to put its economy on a sustainable path. They noted that the second economic adjustment programme agreed between Greece and the Eurogroup was "the basis upon which to build to foster growth, prosperity and jobs for the Greek people" and promised to continue assisting Greece in achieving these goals.
Meanwhile, SYRIZA party spokesman Panos Skourletis dismissed all talk that leftist SYRIZA might participate in a coalition government with New Democracy and PASOK as "politically ridiculous", in comments on suggestions being made on various television panels as election results unfolded. Skourletis stressed that the results until now "showed a picture of positive reversals" that established a new political map with the axis of political life having shifted toward the left. Independent of the government that would be formed, this fact would be taken seriously into account because politics could no longer be the same in terms of the stance toward the EU, he added.
In reply to questions, Skourletis said that if the country was to have a strong negotiating voice then everyone must want a strong opposition, which would benefit the country and democracy, and he categorically ruled out SYRIZA's participation in a cooperation government with ND and PASOK.
(Combined reports, AMNA)