The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on Wednesday said that the party's general secretary Aleka Papariga has asked for early elections, during a conversation with Prime Minister George Papandreou on the telephone. The call was made by Papandreou.
A KKE statement said the prime minister had once again raised the issue of consensus between the parties on the terms set by the European Union in order to give additional loans to Greece.
Papariga replied that KKE refused to discuss any kind of consensus with "terms of impoverishment for the people" and once again expressed her party's complete opposition to the strategies of ruling Pasok, main opposition New Democracy and the EU.
When Papandreou opened a discussion on holding a referendum, Papariga replied that the issue was not to set disorientating, extortionist and terrorist dilemmas but for the people to speak through elections.
The prime minister would continued his round of telephone contacts on Wednesday with the political party leaders after his extraordinary meeting with Karolos Papoulias, government sources said.
The sources said that the premier would call main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras, Popular Orthodox Rally (Laos) leader Yiorgos Karatzaferis, Coalition of the Radical Left (Syriza parliamentary alliance) parliamentary group leader Alexis Tsipras and Democratic Alliance leader Dora Bakoyannis after his meeting with the President.
Papandreou, the sources continued, would make an address to the people later.
The government sources left open all prospects, but for the time being ruled out snap elections.
A statement by Papandreou as he entered into the meeting with Papoulias that even today he was in contact with the party leaders to seek consensus sparked denials of such telephone contacts by ND and Syriza.
(ANA)
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