Posted on 03/07/2004 6:15:28 PM PST by nuconvert
Greek Conservatives Win Parliament Elections
By Brian Murphy Associated Press Writer
Published: Mar 7, 2004
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek conservatives swept to a landslide victory Sunday in parliamentary elections that ended 10 years of Socialist government and assigned a new caretaker to the troubled preparations for this summer's Olympics. With 56 percent of votes counted, the New Democracy party was beating the Socialists 47 percent to 41 percent as part of a deep reshuffling of Greece's political order.
Socialist leader George Papandreou conceded defeat after various exit polls showed New Democracy with a strong lead.
The conservatives, led by 47-year-old Costas Caramanlis, broke into celebration. Car horns blared and champagne corks popped during street parties joined by thousands of people under a full moon. Fireworks exploded overhead. A blitz of cell phone text messages featured the New Democracy emblem and proclaimed: "We're coming!"
Caramanlis waved to supporters amid a sea of flares and blue party banners. Some also unfurled the five-ring Olympic flag in recognition of the new government's main task.
"The job will be difficult and the work ahead of us is hard," said Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni, whose father, former Premier Constantine Mitsotakis, is the party's honorary president.
New Democracy was poised to take an overwhelming majority in the 300-seat parliament. Under the Greek system, the winning party takes the lion's share of seats for a four-year term.
The election put voters at a clear crossroads: Stick with the Socialist establishment or turn to the conservatives, whose leader has never served in a Cabinet post.
Caramanlis has promised smaller government, less bureaucracy and tax cuts to fuel growth and cut an unemployment rate of about 9 percent. Caramanlis has also pledged more funds for social welfare, education and health.
Although Greece has one of the highest growth rates in the European Union at 4.7 percent, it is fueled greatly by Olympic projects. Inflation was just under 3 percent.
Caramanlis has complained that Greece's economy could be stronger if the Socialists had better managed European Union funds aimed at improving its infrastructure.
Many voters perceived the Socialist party as rife with corruption, inefficiency and political arrogance after leading the country for all but three years since 1981.
The government had staked its hopes on going back to its roots. It handed over the party leadership last month to the popular former foreign minister, Papandreou, the American-born son of the party's charismatic founder.
But he could not crack the strong lead already built by New Democracy, which governed from 1990-93.
"New Democracy won the elections," Papandreou said in a brief concession speech. "We will help the effort for the Olympic Games ... a very big moment for our country."
Many projects for the Aug. 13-29 Games remain seriously behind schedule, including a glass-and-steel roof planned for the main stadium. The government must also make sure the unprecedented $800 million security network keeps pace with possible threats. Joint U.S.-Greek military exercises are scheduled to begin Wednesday to train for possible terrorist attacks during the Games, including hijackings and hostage taking.
Caramanlis has promised to keep key Olympic planning personnel, especially in the security services. But there are also fears that a conservative victory could lead to labor unrest from Socialist-dominated unions and disrupt the Olympic works.
Caramanlis also will have to guide Greece in the U.N.-backed talks to reunite the war-divided island of Cyprus, which will join the European Union on May 1 along with nine other new members.
"The Greek people have voted against the old and invested hope in the new," said New Democracy strategist Marietta Giannakou Koutisikou.
The win shows important changes in Greek attitudes, which had been heavily influenced by the left since the collapse of the 1964-74 military dictatorship.
Greece is following a path toward the right blazed by other European nations in recent years, including Portugal and Italy. Spain's conservative Popular Party is forecast to win parliamentary elections on March 14, and rightist Joerg Haider secured another term as governor in Austria's Carinthia province on Sunday.
Four years ago in Greece, the Socialists survived with a slim 1 percent victory. The party has struggled ever since. Many Greeks complain that other European Union partners, such as Ireland, have boomed while the Greek economy has failed to modernize. They also complain of rising prices and falling living standards since adopting the euro two years ago.
Papandreou, 51, now must lead the Socialists in the unfamiliar role of opposition party.
His father, the late Premier Andreas Papandreou, founded the party three decades ago and built it into a powerhouse by doling out civil service jobs and appealing to Greek insecurities - especially toward U.S. policies in the region and Washington's support of the former military junta.
Within the the past year "60 Minutes" did an expose of how the socialist Greek government has been shielding leftist terrorists, their fellow travelers, for the past 3 decades.
Sounds great huh??
Caramanlis has also pledged more funds for social welfare, education and health
These guys are as confused as our RINO's
Yes, we stole their formula!
Well,I have been away a while but I am happy to be back. This place truly is very very addictive.
well, where did you go?
I consider this very good news.
Yes, it is an excellent counter weight to that kind of news. Remember Pat Buchanan used to win alot of votes too, until he published his book and self-destructed politically with many ill-conceived moves.
Anyway.. I am going to delete that line... I've been back for months and months...
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