Gov't seeks better result in second presidential vote as bribe claim probe shelved

With all political parties now actively preparing for the prospect of snap elections, MPs are to vote in the second ballot of a critical three-phase presidential vote at noon on Tuesday.

The government is hoping that its candidate could garner more support following an appeal by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Sunday for political consensus in exchange for early elections at the end of 2015.

The overture by Samaras – who also pledged to broaden the government to include “pro-European” personalities – appeared to have influenced some skeptical independent lawmakers. A few indicated on Monday that they would vote for the government’s candidate, former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas. The government is certain to fall short of Tuesday’s minimum of 200 votes but its performance will give an indication of whether it will be able to attain the 180 necessary in next Monday’s final ballot to avert snap general elections.

Sources indicated that the government could get between 163 and 169 votes in Tuesday’s vote. Next week’s 180-vote target appears very difficult to reach.

Irrespective of the outcome, however, government sources told Kathimerini that Samaras has demonstrated he is open to consensus, unlike leftist SYRIZA which it blames for dragging the country toward elections that could bring fresh political and financial upheaval.

Sources said that Sunday’s overture had been discussed by Samaras and his coalition partner, PASOK chief Evangelos Venizelos, and had been planned to take place between the second and third vote. The timing was brought forward for two reasons – the less-than-impressive result in the first vote last week and a sharp spike in tensions triggered by the claims of Independent Greeks MP Pavlos Haikalis that a...

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