GREECE: PRIME MINISTER'S HOSPITALIZATION LEADS TO POLITICAL CRISIS скачать в хорошем качестве

GREECE: PRIME MINISTER'S HOSPITALIZATION LEADS TO POLITICAL CRISIS

(8 Jan 1996) Greek/Nat With no political heir and the ruling party split by factional infighting, the hospitalization of Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou has thrown the country into crisis. Pressure is mounting on Papandreou to resign and a number of politicians are positioning themselves to take over. Since Papandreou was admitted to hospital on November 20, Greek politics have been in turmoil. After nearly a month and a half on a respirator and kidney support machine, the ailing Prime Minister is showing no signs of stepping down. Interior Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos is acting Prime Minister. Under Greek law Papandreou can only be replaced if he resigns or dies. The Greek parliament is scheduled to hold a vote of confidence Wednesday in the government brought on by the opposition conservatives. They are upset over Papandreou's refusal to step down. The government is expected to survive the vote as Pasok has a comfortable majority in the Greek Parliament. But Papandreou's intransigence has thrown his socialist party, Pasok, into turmoil over who should succeed him. Pasok's leader, the former Industry leader Costas Simitis and leading contender for Prime Minister, has called for unity in face of the vote of confidence. SOUNDBITE: (Greek) The unity of Pasok is taken for granted. The party must stay united and should serve out the balance of its 4-year term and seek reelection for another four years in 1997. SUPER CAPTION: Costas Simitis, Pasok head Pasok is due to hold an emergency session on January 20th to discuss replacing Papandreou and has given his son George the job of asking his stubborn father to step down. George Papandreou visited his ailing father Monday but refused to say if he raised the matter of his resignation. The New Democracy Party, which has tabled the vote of no confidence, thinks Pasok's time has passed. SOUNDBITE: (Greek) Despite the fact that this is an emotional time with Papandreou's health problem, the New democracy Party has great precedence over the ruling Pasok. SUPER CAPTION: Miltiades Evert, New Democracy leader With the stalemate continuing, all eyes are focused on the Onassis Heart Centre where Papandreou is hospitalised. Journalists are keeping a round-the-clock watch waiting for word from the enigmatic leader. Although doctors said Papandreou's condition had improved over the weekend, they say it is unlikely he will ever recover enough to return to office. 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...