Papandreou survives confidence vote / Talks for new Greek government to begin / Idealistic Greek patriarch putting the euro in jeopardy / EU to hold cash until it sees Greek stability

George Papandreou survived a crucial vote of confidence in the Greek parliament on the 4 November 2011, but his position as Greek premier would remain at risk as a group of senior socialists called for a government of national unity to be formed quickly under a new leader.

Mr Papandreou signalled he might stand down as Premier after forming a coalition government to take the country to elections early in 2012.

The vote ended five days of political turmoil caused by Mr Papandreou’s decision to call a referendum on Greece’s membership of the euro – which he later reversed.

The prime minister said the priorities for the new cross-party government were to approve Greece’s new €130bn international bail-out package as well as the 2012 budget and further structural reforms.

ESO: Background information: Greek PM scraps referendum plan / Papandreou’s future hangs in the balance / Euro exit would give EU legal and financial headache http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-pm-scraps-referendum-plan-papandreous-future-hangs-in-the-balance-euro-exit-would-give-eu-legal-and-financial-headache/

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