Al-Jadaan: Saudi Arabia will enhance use of technology to achieve spending efficiency    Israel's Netanyahu acknowledges pager attack in Lebanon    India's luxury airline Vistara flies into the sunset    Valencia government rules out resignations as anger grows over Spain flood response    Moscow targeted as Ukraine and Russia barrage each other with drone attacks    Haiti's prime minister ousted after six months    Rita Ora is tearful in tribute to Liam Payne at MTV Awards    Minister of National Guard inaugurates Riyadh Global Medical Biotechnology Summit 2024    GASTAT: Non-oil activities rise 5% in September    Prince Faisal meets Palestinian PM, Lebanese FM in Riyadh    Health practitioners arrested for posting indecent videos on social media    'Art of the Kingdom': First traveling exhibition of contemporary Saudi art launched in Rio de Janeiro    4-member gang transporting illegals busted in Riyadh    France to deploy 4,000 police officers for UEFA Nations League match against Israel    Ghaznawi: 1,800 hotel rooms and 9,000 housing units to be made available in Historic Jeddah    Saudi Pro League: Al Qadsiah extend positive run with 2-0 win over Al Fayha    Al Nassr edges past Al Riyadh with Mane's goal to move up to third    Al Ahli continues strong form with 2-0 win over Al Raed in Saudi Pro League    Three charged in connection with Liam Payne's death    Dubai Design Week launches its 10th edition, celebrating creativity and innovation    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Muted Eid celebrations for millions of Nigerian Muslims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Greece's conservative government narrowly wins confidence vote
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 30 - 09 - 2007


Greece's re-elected government
narrowly won a vote of confidence in its program Sunday,
following a three-day debate marking the outset of its new
term, according to AP.
As expected, Conservative Prime Minister Costas
Karamanlis's government won the midnight roll call vote on
straight party lines, 152 to 148. Main opposition Socialist
PASOK voted against, as did the Communists, the Left
Coalition and the far-right populist LAOS party, holding
its first-ever parliamentary representation.
«I am determined to do all I can to push the country
forward,» Karamanlis said in wrapping up over 12 hours of
debate. «The problems which we face are many, there is no
time to lose.»
More than 60 of the 300 deputies spoke at the first
legislative session since the Sept. 16 election.
Highlighting his program featuring pension and education
reform, Karamanlis rejected polarization and insisted his
governing approach was inclusive. «Our choice is to go
forward with dialogue, understanding and synthesis,» he
said.
He also defended his decision _ unveiled after the
election _ to push ahead with a new electoral law. Nearly
every Greek government since democracy was restored in 1974
has altered the electoral system, but his surprise
announcement was widely denounced by the opposition as
opportunistic or worse, and several Socialist deputies
including Evangelos Venizelos, a candidate for his party's
leadership, attacked Karamanlis personally.
The change would only take effect after the next
elections, due by September 2011.
Karamanlis' New Democracy party dropped 13 seats from its
165 in the previous parliament. The current system gives
the winning party a 40-seat bonus, and he indicated this
could rise «without harming proportional representation.»
Socialist leader George Papandreou accused the government
of weakening Greece's international position while hailing
past successes by his own party _ which he served for five
years as foreign minister _ in dealing with Macedonia and
bringing Cyprus into the European Union.
Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis insisted that Macedonia
compromise on the issue of its name. «Under these
(present) terms, there can be no progress in (Macedonia's)
European and Euro-Atlantic prospects,» she said, adding
that Greece favored Turkish membership in the EU but
«without blank checks.»
Papandreou also challenged the government to do much more
to help farmers and to reconstruct regions damaged by huge
forest fires in August, which killed more than 65 people
and overshadowed the election campaign. Earlier he had
criticized government plans to sell off the public power
corporation and Olympic Airlines «to foreign giants ... at
bargain-basement prices.»
Parliament on Monday begins debating the 2008 budget.


Clic here to read the story from its source.