Word: papandreou
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...stability of NATO's southern flank. The campaign had been spectacular and occasionally ugly, a succession of mammoth rallies, fiery oratory and occasional mudslinging. When the political chorus finally fell silent last week, there was a faint sense of relief in Western capitals. The paradoxical reason: Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, 66, the charismatic Socialist whose belligerent rhetoric and obstructionist ways have tested alliance patience since 1981, was still securely in power...
With the ballots counted, Papandreou's Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) had taken 45.8% of the 6.4 million votes cast and gained a clear majority of 161 seats in the 300-member Parliament. The Socialists finished well ahead of the center-right New Democracy party, led by Constantine Mitsotakis, which won 40.8% and 126 seats. The other loser was the Moscow-lining Communist Party (known by its Greek initials K.K.E.), which emerged with 9.9% of the vote and twelve seats. Exultant, Papandreou termed the result of the balloting "a victory for the people and a defeat for reaction...
After two inconclusive parliamentary ballots in six days, Greece's Socialist Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou succeeded last week in a bold move that left him at the pinnacle of his power. By mustering 180 votes in Parliament --the absolute minimum necessary--Papandreou saw to it that his candidate, Christos Sartzetakis, 56, was elected President. Sartzetakis replaces conservative Elder Statesman Constantine Caramanlis, 78, a prestigious counterweight to Papandreou who resigned March 10 after the Socialists withdrew support for his candidacy...
Sartzetakis' election created something of a constitutional conundrum. The deciding vote was cast by Yannis Alevras, a member of Papandreou's party, who became acting President once Caramanlis stepped down. The opposition New Democracy Party, which supports Caramanlis and abstained in the vote last week, charged that as acting President, Alevras was not eligible to vote, even though Papandreou had obtained parliamentary permission for him to do so. With no legally prescribed procedure on the books for deciding the question, Sartzetakis, a former Supreme Court Justice, was sworn in late last week; New Democracy members boycotted the ceremony...
...Papandreou had planned to back Caramanlis as a way of reassuring voters and thus ensuring his own victory in national elections scheduled for the fall. But opposition by militant members of PASOK persuaded Papandreou to change his mind at the last minute. Instead, the Prime Minister endorsed a moderate, Supreme Court Judge Christos Sartzetakis, for the post...