PM George Papandreou Interview at “Politique Internationale”

Few countries have suffered from the global economic crisis as much as Greece. Not only did it feel the full force of the financial earthquake, but it also found itself under attack by international speculators. Today, as the IMF and the European Union prepare to help, the country is licking its wounds and trying to understand how things got so bad. George Papandreou is not the last to ask the question. Elected prime minister in October 2009, the leader of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) is fiercely critical of the previous center-right New Democracy administration, which he believes is guilty of setting up a system of cronyism and of knowingly underestimating the public debt and budget deficit. But the new head of government is an energetic man. In this exclusive interview, he outlines his strategy for resolving his country’s daunting problems. http://www.politiqueinternationale.com/revue/article.php?id_revue=127&id=901&content=synopsis

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International Media on Greece

 

 

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) In their article “Can Greece lead the way” (9.11.2009) for “openDemocracy,” Anthony Barnett and Mary Kaldor write about the fact that though the left across Europe flounders in the wake of the economic crisis – where the centre right is resurgent – the Greek socialist party under George Papandreou could prove the exception with its dramatic election victory.    
They argue that Papandreou’s goal is an innovative form of progressive government that combines green development, democratic openness, and international reconciliation.
“Papandreou is an exceptionally original and open-minded politician, wishing to lead both Greece and PASOK towards a genuinely far-sighted response to the financial and environmental crisis and the international challenges facing Europe.”

Greece at the EU Negotiations

‘Lisbon’ & ‘Copenhagen’ in EU Spotlight

Prime Minister George Greek Prime Minister Papandreou (first from the left) participates in the two-day meeting

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) The meeting of heads of state and government in the European Council began yesterday and concludes today (October 29-30). Prime Minister George Papandreou (first from the left) participates in the two-day meeting, the agenda of which is dominated by deliberations on climate change ahead of the Copenhagen meeting, and the European Union’s institutional future under the new Treaty of Lisbon.

Breaking the Ice

Yesterday, on the sidelines of the EU Council, Papandreou held a 20-minute informal meeting with Nikola Gruevski, the Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.Papandreou reiterated his personal initiative to promote the Western Balkan states’ accession to the European Union by 2014, stressing that a mutually accepted name erga omnes is a prerequisite for Greece in the case of FYROM.

Socialist Call for Green Growth

Addressing a meeting of the EU Socialist Prime Ministers -Party of European Socialists (PES)- ahead of the European Council Meeting, Papandreou spoke of the need for EU Socialist Parties to push through changes that would put the citizen first and secure that the Copenhagen meeting’s resolution consolidates green growth.

Socialists’ Meetings in the Balkans

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  President of Socialist International and leader of the main opposition PASOK Party, George Papandreou will address the Socialist International Council Meeting in the Republic of Montenegro (June 29-30).  The meeting will focus on ways to deal with the economic meltdown, climate change, regional conflicts, recent developments in Iran and illegal migration.  Visiting Balkan countries ahead of the Council’s works, Papandreou first arrived in Albania where he held talks with Edi Rama, head of the Socialist Party of Albania and current Mayor of Tirana, as well as with his Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of the Orthodox Church of Albania.  Next stop for SI president was Serbia, where he met with President Boris Tadic. Both in Albania and in Serbia, Papandreou endorsed the countries’ European perspective. Especially in the case of Serbia, Papandreou acknowledged that the country has taken important steps in terms of reforms suitable to an EU candidacy.”

International Symposium on Social-Democrasy

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   “Social-democracy and the challenges of the future. Which will be the progressive model for Europe?” is the title of an international symposium that Greek newspaper To Vima and Spanish newspaper El Pais are jointly organising on May 12 at the Athens Concert Hall as part of the Megaron Plus series.  Socialist International and PASOK Party President George Papandreou will open the Athens Symposium and Segolene Royal –French presidential candidate in 2007- will deliver the keynote speech. Prominent figures in international social-democracy will participate in the event – among which former Prime Ministers of Spain, Italy and Greece Felipe Gonzalez, Massimo d’ Alema and Costas Simitis.  (Photo from prior visit- Greek News Agenda: Papandreou & Socialist MP Ségolène Royal)

Greek History: Andreas Papandreou Archives Online

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)   Andreas G. Papandreou (Greek: Ανδρέας Γ. Παπανδρέου) (5 February 1919 – 23 June 1996) was a Greek economist, a socialist politician and a dominant figure in Greek politics. He served two terms as Prime Minister of Greece (1981-1989, and 1993-1996). The archive of the Andreas G. Papandreou Foundation (www.agp.gr) consists of his personal archive, the Papandreou family archive, and various relevant archives donated to the Foundation. Selected material presented by theme is displayed on a new website (http://agp.archeio.gr).