GREECE: PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU HEALTH UPDATE скачать в хорошем качестве

GREECE: PRIME MINISTER ANDREAS PAPANDREOU HEALTH UPDATE

(4 Dec 1995) Greek/English/Nat As veteran Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou fights for his life in hospital, Greeks are contemplating the political void he will leave behind if he dies. Greece has ground to a standstill, with the nation keeping vigil as 76-year old Papandreou remains in hospital hooked up to a respirator and kidney machine. Ever since Andreas Papandreou was admitted to the Onassis Heart Centre in Athens on November 20th well-wishers have held a vigil outside. Some hold up signs expressing their hope that the Greek Prime Minister will recover. This woman holds a picture of the Harvard-educated Prime Minister who has dominated Greek politics for twenty years. Papandreou is being fed through a tube and is on a kidney machine and a respirator. He is reported to be under heavy sedation. Doctors say his condition is stable. SOUNDBITE: (Greek) "The situation of the prime minister's health in the last 24 hours has remained stable. He had dialysis which he tolerated well and his breathing is being supported by a respirator." SUPER CAPTION: Grigoris Skalkeas, Hospital Spokesman There's some optimism about his recovery. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Yes in some ways improving...yes I am a little more optimistic." SUPER CAPTION: Grigoris Skalkeas, Hospital Spokesman Papandreou's passing would leave a giant hole at the top, as he doesn't seem to have arranged for his succession. His Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is split between "populists" who support free-spending policies and "modernisers" who back Greece's commitment to the budgetary discipline required for European economic and monetary union (EMU). A leader chosen from either of these factions would be vulnerable to sniping from the other. One alternative would be to elect a compromise candidate to see the party through to the next general election, due in 1997. His supporters clustered at the hospital hope against hope that he will recover. SOUNDBITE: (Greek) "God help him and keep him alive. He's the only one who can save Greece." SUPER CAPTION: Supporter SOUNDBITE: (Greek) "We came here to join our hopes for Andreas to recover soon and take over the ship (Greece) that's going down. We hope to see Andreas Strong again because he is Greece's hope and future. Without him our country will die." SUPER CAPTION: Supporter Sir Magdi Yacoub, the Egyptian-born British doctor who performed triple-bypass surgery on Papandreou in 1988, flew to Greece on the Prime Minister's plane. He was cheered as he entered the hospital. Yacoub has since returned to Britain and says the Prime Minister's heart is functioning normally-- he said he's prepared to return if he's needed. Meanwhile, Greeks are praying for their leader and ..waiting. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...