Socialists’ choice forces resignation

Press, 12 March 1985, Page 10

Socialists’ choice forces resignation

NZPA-Reuter Athens The Greek President, Mr Constantine Karamanlis, a pro-Westerner who restored Greek democracy and steered Greece into the European Economic Community, has resigned after the Socialist Government refused to back him for another term. His departure after 50 years in Greek politics, 14 of them as Prime Minister and five as President, ended abruptly a period of relative political peace, in which he had co-operated smoothly with the Socialists. The Socialists decided at the week-end not to back him in Friday’s Parliamentary vote for a new President and the Prime Minister, Dr Andreas Papandreou, proposed changes in the Constitution. Apparently referring to the proposed changes in the 1975 Constitution, which he largely drafted, Mr Karamanlis said that he was resigning “in view of forthcoming developments to which I cannot be party.” Dr Papandreou said that he regretted the decision

but that the Parliamentary vote would go ahead as planned. He expected the party’s candidate, Judge Christos Sartzetakis, to be elected. Constantine Mitsotakis, leader of the conservative New Democracy Party, which would have backed Mr Karamanlis’s re-elec-tion, said that his party was against Judge Sartzetakis’s candidacy and demanded an

immediate General Election. "The absence of Karamanlis from the political arena fundamentally changes the political situation and creates a great and tragic gap,” Mr Mitsotakis said. Mr Karamanlis, aged 78, was widely regarded as a restraining influence on the Socialists’ radical foreign policy plans, which include a long-term aspiration to quit N.A.T.0., expel American bases, and make Greece non-aligned. The Constitutional changes would limit Presidential discretion in choosing a Prime Minister, dissolving Parliament, and calling referendums. They would also make the procedure for more Constitutional changes simpler. The existing Constitution says that a General Election must be held between the time any amendment is proposed and its ratification.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Speaker of Parliament took over as temporary President. He is loannis Alevras, a senior Socialist Party official.