Greek P.M. Bids For Support

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30839, 26 August 1965, Page 13

Greek P.M. Bids For Support

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter— Copy right) ATHENS, August 25. The fate of Greece’s third Government of the summer rests today in the hands of the leaders of the minority parties in Parliament.

The Prime Minister, Mr Elias Tsirimokos, who asked last night for a vote of confidence, will find out tonight how well his policy speech was received by the Parliamentary leaders. He must gain strong support from the minor parties and considerable backing from the large Centre Union Party from which he split if his 15-man Cabinet is to continue in power. The Centre Union Party will make its views known in the House on Thursday, and a

vote of confidence is expected on Friday or Saturday.

Mr Tsirimokos was asked last week by King Constantine to form a Government in an effort to restore stability to the country which has been rocked by demonstrations since the fall of Mr George Papandreou, the former Prime Minister.

Mr Papandreou was ousted from office in a dispute over the armed forces. Mr Tsirimokos told the House last night that his Cabinet “serves democracy which we all desire. It serves the nation which needs both normality and democracy.” Mr Papandreou, who has declared that he will return to Parliament only as Prime Minister, was absent last night when Mr Tsirimokos gave his policy speech.