PM names Dimas as presidential candidate, starts search for votes

Series Title
Series Details 09.12.14
Publication Date 09/12/2014
Content Type

The Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras named former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas as his coalition’s candidate for early presidential elections to be held on the 17 December 2014 (with possible second and third round voting later in the month).

The election would take place within the Greek parliament. The government would seek to build the 180 votes required to endorse Dimas and avert a general election.

EurActiv reported on the 10 December 2014 that a European Commission spokesman seemed to endorse the decision by the Greek Government to advance the election and the choice of Mr Dimas - an unusual step.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the new European Commission President, had already intimated that his Commission would be a more political institution than in the past - on the 11 December 2014 Mr Juncker said in a debate 'I wouldn't like extreme forces to come to power' in any forthcoming Greek elections, which again was seen as an endorsement of Mr Dimas. On the 16 December 2014 Mr Juncker clarified that by this comments he meant only extreme right-ring forces like Golden Dawn.

The fear was that if a Presidential candidate could not be successfully chosen by the Greek Parliament during December, this would trigger a general election in early 2015, which polls currently showed that the left-wing anti-austerity Syriza Party would top the polls.

Source Link Link to Main Source http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_09/12/2014_545288
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Greek Parliament passes 2015 budget as leaders clash http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-parliament-passes-2015-budget-as-leaders-clash/
ESO: Background information: Presidential Election in Greece, December 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/presidential-election-in-greece-december-2014/
BBC News, 09.12.14: Greece to hold key presidential vote two months early http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30389856
Blog: Open Europe, 09.12.14: Was the Greek government right to call a snap Presidential election? http://openeuropeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/was-greek-government-right-to-call-snap.html
EurActiv, 09.12.14: Greece prepares for snap elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/greece-goes-polls-310688
EurActiv, 09.12.14: Greek PM names former EU commissioner as presidential nominee http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/greek-pm-names-former-eu-commissioner-presidential-nominee-310686
Kathimerini, 08.12.14: Gov’t calls snap presidential poll for December 17 http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_08/12/2014_545248
The Guardian, 09.12.14: Antonis Samaras brings forward date of presidential poll in Greece http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/09/antonis-samaras-greece-presidential-poll-syriza-party
EurActiv, 10.12.14: European Commission officially backs government candidate in Greek elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/european-commission-officially-backs-government-candidate-greek-elections
EUObserver, 11.12.14: EU commission wades into Greece's presidential debate http://euobserver.com/political/126872
Kathimerini, 10.12.14: Timetable: Next steps to presidential elections and beyond http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_10/12/2014_545305
EUObserver, 11.12.14: Juncker: Greece should avoid 'wrong outcome' in elections http://euobserver.com/political/126880
Kathimerini, 11.12.14: PM says snap polls and SYRIZA win would put Greece’s future at risk http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_11/12/2014_545367
The Conversation, 12.12.14: Snap election and market collapse show Greece is still crippled by crisis https://theconversation.com/snap-election-and-market-collapse-show-greece-is-still-crippled-by-crisis-35347
Kathimerini, 15.12.14: Kouvelis leaves door open for DIMAR MPs to vote for president http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_15/12/2014_545439
Avgi, 14.12.14: Giannis Kibouropoulos on fears of the left gaining power (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE155260-Giannis-Kibouropoulos-on-fears-of-the-left-gaining-power
EurActiv, 17.12.14: Juncker’s meddling in Greece’s election sparks controversy http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/junckers-meddling-greeces-election-sparks-controversy-310905

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