Word: papandreou
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...corruption charges that have been scorching Greek politics engulfed Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou last week in the worst crisis of his tenure. Papandreou found himself compelled to rebut allegations by the central figure in the multimillion-dollar banking scandal that the Prime Minister personally received some of those millions as secret payments for political favor. The accusations, which ran in TIME and as a cover story in several of the magazine's foreign editions, inspired passionate outcry in Greece and provoked opposition leaders in Parliament to demand the Prime Minister's resignation...
...Athens the Prime Minister fought back by accusing his political and "foreign" opponents of conspiring to overthrow him. Looking drawn and nervous, Papandreou defended himself in a 15-minute televised address to the nation. He dismissed Koskotas' "despicable allegations" as part of an "unprecedented political conspiracy" aimed at destroying "Papandreou, the government, democracy and the independence of the country" to restore a "regime of dependence and subjugation." In fact, declared Papandreou, "not a trace of the mud flying from all sides touches me." He went on to claim that he had spared no effort in making the "truth shine." Finally...
...Papandreou's staunch denial of wrongdoing did not prevent rival politicians from calling for his resignation. "He is becoming a laughingstock with his repeated theories about plots," said Constantine Mitsotakis, head of the conservative New Democracy Party. Two members of the Prime Minister's own PASOK party, both former ministers, also called on Papandreou to step aside -- so far the only signs of internal revolt...
...opposition parties planned mass street rallies to force Papandreou's resignation, Parliament was debating a motion of no confidence that would bring about new elections. But most political observers predicted that Papandreou would weather the vote, set for early this week. His political fate is not likely to be settled until Greece holds scheduled elections in June, and the outlook for the beleaguered Prime Minister then is considerably more problematic...
WORLD: A fallen Greek tycoon says Prime Minister Papandreou helped him loot the nation's coffers of millions...