| Series Title | Kathimerini |
|---|---|
| Series Details | 09.12.14 |
| Publication Date | 09/12/2014 |
| Content Type | News |
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The Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras named former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas as his coalition’s candidate for early presidential elections to be held on the 17 December 2014 (with possible second and third round voting later in the month). The election would take place within the Greek parliament. The government would seek to build the 180 votes required to endorse Dimas and avert a general election. EurActiv reported on the 10 December 2014 that a European Commission spokesman seemed to endorse the decision by the Greek Government to advance the election and the choice of Mr Dimas - an unusual step. Jean-Claude Juncker, the new European Commission President, had already intimated that his Commission would be a more political institution than in the past - on the 11 December 2014 Mr Juncker said in a debate 'I wouldn't like extreme forces to come to power' in any forthcoming Greek elections, which again was seen as an endorsement of Mr Dimas. On the 16 December 2014 Mr Juncker clarified that by this comments he meant only extreme right-ring forces like Golden Dawn. The fear was that if a Presidential candidate could not be successfully chosen by the Greek Parliament during December, this would trigger a general election in early 2015, which polls currently showed that the left-wing anti-austerity Syriza Party would top the polls. |
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| Source Link | http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_09/12/2014_545288 |
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| Countries / Regions | Greece |
