Post date: Jun 21, 2013 4:3:59 PM
The Democratic Left Party quits the coalition government following a row over the state broadcaster ERT, but says it does not want elections.
ATHENS, GREECE (JUNE 21, 2013) (REUTERS) - Greece's junior coalition partner, the Democratic Left Party, quit the government on Friday (June 21) and withdrew its ministers over a row over the state broadcaster ERT, leaving Prime Minister Antonis Samaras with a tiny majority in parliament.
"After the decision by Democratic Left to withdraw from the government coalition and to withdraw its ministers I will submit my resignation to the prime minister today," said Public Administration Minister and Democratic Left Party member Antonis Manitakis, confirming the party was exiting.The Justice Minister and two more deputy government ministers are also from theDemocratic Left Party.
Democratic Left lawmakers have yet to clarify whether they will offer external support in parliamentary votes to bailout reforms, party officials said, although party leader Fotis Kouvelis said in a statement the country did not need elections andDemocratic Left will continue to support the reform process and remain pro-European.
Party spokesman Dimitris Hatzisokratis echoed those thoughts to journalists and said the party would decide as issues arose.
"Depending on the issues that arise, Democratic Left will decide accordingly, and in line with its general position which says that it is the left of responsibility and which during all of this time has supported a specific policy. We will not depart from this position, neither in our politics nor in our relationship with Europe. When an issue arises we will deal with it," he said.
Democratic Left Party member Vassilis Ekonomou was one of the members who had disagreed with leaving the coalition and had expressed this to the party, but said the decision was by a majority.
"It is a decision of the party which was decided by a majority and I accepted it," he said.
The party's departure is major blow to Samaras, who is left with a three-seat majority of 153 in the 300 seat parliament, making it tougher to pass unpopular reforms. At least two independent lawmakers have suggested they could backSamaras's government, however.
The coalition has been a fragile one due to tough economic reforms that have been passed since last year, but Samaras' decision to suddenly shut down state TV ERTwithin hours last week, saying it was wasteful and corrupt, angered the two coalition partners.
The other party, PASOK, said it will continue to support Samaras so as not to create instability. A cabinet reshuffle will now take place in the coming days and Samaras's New Democracy Party will hold a party conference in a week's time. Samaras said earlier he was ready to press ahead without Democratic Left if necessary.