Papandreou under fire from coalition MPs over plans for joint appearance with Kouvelis

Plans by former prime minister George Papandreou to appear at an Athens book launch on Monday with Fotis Kouvelis, the head of Democratic Left (DIMAR) who quit the current ruling coalition last June over the closure of the then state broadcaster ERT, fuelled criticism on Friday from coalition MPs in both PASOK and New Democracy.

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, who is an ND MP, commented to Skai television channel, "We are living in the land of the absurd," in reference to the actions of Papandreou who has recently become increasingly critical of economic measures being implemented in Greece although he was the premier who requested foreign support in 2010. "I'm sure that in a while Mr Papandreou will be selling anti-memorandum [rhetoric] like Mr Kammenos," Georgidias said, referring to the leader of the virulent anti-bailout, rightwing Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos.

PASOK MP Michalis Kassis, who in 2012 quit PASOK over austerity before rejoining the party, was also critical of former PASOK leader Papandreou in comments on Mega television channel. "He is doing great harm to PASOK," Kassis said, noting that instead of supporting the PASOK-backed center-left grouping Elia, several former ministers who had been close to him have sided with DIMAR. "All that is left is for him to express his support for DIMAR too," Kassis said.