PASOK leader Venizelos meets with President Papoulias

PASOK leader and government vice-president Evangelos Venizelos on Wednesday visited Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias at the Presidential Mansion, noting that “we want economic growth, employment, and a Europe

that is friendly and there for the people. I hope that this message will be understood. No one can tolerate austerity and unemployment.”

Responding to the president's questions about developments in Europe following the outcome of the European elections, Venizelos said that the socialists want institutional procedures to be implemented, namely, that the first choice should be the EPP candidate for the European Commission presidency since the EPP has elected the most MEPs.

“We are interested in European institutions and European integration. We want the European Parliament to be upgraded, because this is the message sent by the peoples,” he said.

As regards the political landscape formed in Greece after the elections, he said that the main conclusion is that stability in the country should be preserved and a joint effort should be made to exit the crisis. “We are just a few steps before the end of the crisis and we need to take [these steps] united,” he said.

“The second message sent by the people is that they do not want this symbolic civil war desired by some. The nation should be reunited and I will have the opportunity to present to you some of my thoughts in the direction of national unity and social consensus,” Venizelos underlined.

source: ΑΜΝΑ