The Prime Minister’s mandate to shut down ERT has jeopardized the viability of the tripartite government, as PASOK and DIMAR feel that they are being sidelined.
The PM Antonis Samaras appears to be absolute about the closure of ERT, despite the protest of Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis. The PASOK and DIMAR leaders have requested that ERT continues operating until it is restructured and demanded a meeting with the PM.
Government officials however commented that “Venizelos and Kouvelis act as if there never was a meeting last Sunday”, alluding to a meeting between the three leaders and the Minister of State Stamatis. The main topic of the meeting was ERT. In order to not be held responsible for escalating the tension, Mr. Samaras has agreed to a meeting with the other two government partners.
From now on the main issue is to find a compromise, in order to avoid the possibility of elections. The PM insists that he cannot “go back” on ERT and that early elections are not his intention.
Venizelos and Kouvelis argue that ERT should resume operations, until it is replaced by the new broadcasting service, while also questioning the coordination and government operation. With increasing pressure from their political parties, the two leaders want to take a more active role in the decision-making.
The likeliest scenario is that the Prime Minister will attempt to bring some calm to the table, while searching for a compromising solution that the three government partners can agree upon. Nobody wants elections, especially in Brussels, Berlin and the IMF.