Following yesterday's announcement of a referendum on the latest bailout/surrender of sovereignty by Greek PM George Papandreou, discussed here on dailykos, political developments have been swift.
Already one PASOK MP has resigned from the governing parliamentary group, reducing the majority to two in the 300 seat chamber and others resignations are said to imminent. Additionally, the leader of the opposition, Antonis Samaras has threatened to have all of his MPs resign from parliament, forcing snap elections.
Samaras is planning to meet with his MPs on Wednesday amid speculation that he will ask his entire Parliamentary group to resign, a move that would effectively lead to the dissolution of Parliament and a call to general elections.
That's all for now, will update as events unfold.
UPDATE 4 pm Athens time.
A group of PASOK officials is calling for the PM to resign.
Six members of PASOK's national council drafted a letter on Tuesday afternoon demanding the resignation of Prime Minister George Papandreou, creating more discord in the ruling Socialist party.
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"The country urgently needs a government with political legitimacy, a plan of national resurrection and significant managerial skills,» the letter, signed by the six PASOK officials, said. «The present government has none of these necessary prerequisites. The government's policy leads to asphyxiation. Day by day, the country is experiencing conditions of dissolution, illegality and an absence of governance."
Those are the words of his own people. I'd say it is time for him to go.
UPDATE 4:20 Athens time.
The Athens News has a decent live blog of political developments today in Athens.
In the last hour Eva Kaili becomes the second Pasok MP of the day to call for a "national salvation government". Effectively calling for Papandreou to resign, she said the new government must be led by a prime minister with cross party support. The Thessaloniki MP sent a letter to the prime minister saying she disagrees with the decision to hold a referendum, arguing that a "no" vote could send the country to bankruptcy. The former TV news presenter wrote that her conscience does not allow her to separate her personal or party interests from national interests. She concludes: "In these critical times we all accept our responsibilities, something I will do."
UPDATE 4:45 Athens time.
The New York Times weighs in.
The Greek government was plunged into chaos on Tuesday and faced an imminent collapse, as lawmakers rebelled against Prime Minister George Papandreou’s surprise call for a popular referendum on a new debt deal with Greece’s foreign lenders.
snip
If Mr. Papandreou’s government falls, it would not be the first one in Europe to be toppled by the austerity demanded by European debt relief. In Ireland and Portuga,l governments that accepted bailouts from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund fell, and last month the Slovakian government fell over whether to participate in the European Union’s rescue package.
UPDATE 5:35 Athens time.
A wire from Reuters republished by the Athens News.
The leaders of France and Germany scrambled to limit the damage to the wider eurozone, and European politicians expressed incredulity at an announcement that caught everyone by surprise - including Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos.
An editorial by the very good Alexis Papachelas in Kathimerini newspaper.
I am not talking about the consumer goods that we became accustomed to with such ease. I am talking about, for example, the pharmaceutical companies that exploited to the full Greece’s corrupt and disorganized system so as to multiply their profits compared to what they made in other countries. I am referring to the many billions that went toward armaments, behind which were huge kickbacks.
A friend also received notice of the real estate tax that will be attached to the electricity bill. It is a whopping 1,600 euros on a flat of 85 square meters over the next four months. Another person received his notice to pay 360 euros even though his income is 350!
UPDATE 6:10 Athens time.
Apparently the collapsing government has decided that this is a good time to change the leadership of the Armed Forces. Opposition New Democracy has denounced the changes and said that it will not accept them.
Is the government afraid of a coup?
Link here but in Greek.
UPDATE 6:20 Athens time.
The previous story now in English.
The chiefs of the army, navy and airforce and general staff are to be replaced, in an unexpected move by the defence minister.
An extraordinary meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (Kysea) that got underway shortly before the cabinet meeting at 6pm, Defence Minister Panos Beglitis will propose to the prime minister and other ministers who are also Kysea members that the chiefs of all the branches of the armed forces be replaced.
UPDATE 9:20 Athens time.
I have been watching the nightly news. Papandreou has been ordered to appear at the G20 tomorrow which has put a pause on the revolt by ruling party MPs not wanting to scuttle the government at a time when its leader is abroad. Thus all the drama will be moved to Friday, when the vote of confidence is scheduled. Several PASOK MPs have expressed their opposition to the reckless referendum and have said that the country must go to a Grand Coalition government, or at the least that the proposed referendum be withdrawn.
So, stay tuned. If anything dramatic happens tonight, I'll update this diary. Otherwise, expect an update in the form of a new diary on Friday.