Papandreou Supported

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 15

Papandreou Supported

(N Z.P A- Reuter —Copyright)

ATHENS, August 6.

Greece’s second largest political party has backed the former Premier, George Papandreou, in his request to King Constantine for a mandate to form a new government or for new general elections.

Mr Panayotis Canellopoulos, leader of the National Radical Union, and Mr Papandreou both met the 25-year-old monarch last night for crisis talks. This followed the resignation of the government of Mr George Athanassiades-Novas.

Mr Papandreou, whc is aged 77, said afterwards: “I have asked the King to give me a mandate as leader of the Parliamentary majority to form a new government. In case this request is not accepted. I have asked for new elections.” Mr Canellopoulos said he had advised the King to form

a government from Mr Papandreou’s union of the centre party. It held the largest number of seats—l 47— although four short of a working majorty. Mr Canelloupoulos, whose party holds 99 seats and supported Mr Novas in yesterday's vote, said a general election was the only other answer. Mr Novas’s Government was formed three weeks ago after the resignation of Mr Papandreou in a dispute with the King over a proposed purge of Right-wing elements in the army. It failed to win a confidence vote yesterday but will stay on as a caretaker regime until a new Cabinet js sworn in.