![Meeting of the political leaders backing the Greek government under the Greek Premier Lucas Papademos [ARCHIVE MATERIAL 20120205 ]](/webimages/foto_large/2012/2/6/038cf71da71914f307d9e06c9e586640_696401.jpg)
Meeting of the political leaders backing the Greek government under the Greek Premier Lucas Papademos [ARCHIVE MATERIAL 20120205 ]
(ANSAmed) - ATHENS - After a 5-hour meeting, Greek Premier Lucas Papademos and the leaders of the three political parties backing his government, PASOK's Giorgos Papandreou (socialist), New Democracy's Antonis Samaras (centre-right) and Laos' Gioros Karatzaferis (far right) came very close to reaching a definitive agreement, according to newspapers, even though there are still crucial issues on the table regarding the reduction of pension benefits, the cost of labour in the private sector and reducing public spending. Sources close to New Democracy stated that Samaras managed to avoid the abolishment of 13th and 14th month's pay, and moreover he continues to reject the requests made by the troika (IMF, EU and ECB) on pension benefits. Today talks are continuing between the government and troika representatives to definitively come to an agreement on the new aid package for Greece, which may reach 170 billion euros, while another meeting between the premier and the leaders of the three parties is scheduled for this afternoon. While speaking with journalists at the end of yesterday's meeting, Samaras said that "they are asking for more decline than the country can tolerate. We are trying to avoid it in every way possible". Papandreou summoned his party's Political Council to examine the difficult situation that his country is going through. "Our partners," Papandreou said while speaking to members of the Political Council, "have prepared two plans: Plan A and Plan B. The first is a support and aid plan for our country, despite the difficult commitments that they are requiring, while the second plan involves bankruptcy and the departure of Greece from the euroarea." Papandreou, like the other leaders, insisted on the need to move forward with talks until the end. (ANSAmed).
