Papandreou

Mr Papandreou, a former foreign minister who reached out to Turkey, is mistrusted by his party's old-fashioned nationalists.

With his poll ratings in free fall and his deputies defecting from the party, Papandreou seems to be running out of options.

In just a few months Mr Papandreou's Socialist government is seeking to overturn decades of tax evasion and easy government money.

Since Mr Papandreou became prime minister, his government has been trying to crack down on habitual tax evaders.

My guess is probably not and that Mr Papandreou's efforts will come to be regarded as the last real attempt to save the country.

But there was an immediate price, as the lone dissenter from Prime Minister Papandreou's parliamentary party was quickly dispelled.

Mr Papandreou may be able to help with this as well.

Lawmakers close to Mr. Venizelos came out against Mr. Papandreou. His referendum and his majority were history. He resigned days later.

Socialist Prime Minister George Papandreou has struggled to win support from his own party to pass the unpopular legislation.

Mr Papandreou was forced to call yet another emergency cabinet meeting on November 3rd, with most of his allies apparently deserting him.

She believes Papandreou is afraid. She adds that if he were not afraid, he would have done things differently.

Greece's George Papandreou is trying to form a new government and survive a vote of confidence this weekend.

Papandreou, for his part, said relations between the two countries were "excellent" on both a commercial and a political level.

Mr Papandreou's departure from office, and perhaps from politics, would not make Greece's relations with its creditors any easier.

"I can guarantee that Greece will live up to all its commitments, " Papandreou said ahead of the evening meeting with Merkel.

Papandreou was reported to have later indicated he could step down even if he won today's knife-edge vote of confidence in parliament.

Papandreou surprised financial markets this week when he called for a public vote on a deal the European Union had reached days earlier.

The spreads between Italian and German government debt had begun to widen well before Mr Papandreou dropped his bombshell.

Mr Papandreou had earlier suggested a coalition as a way out of the deepening political crisis.

His appointment at the head of a government of national unity came after four days of wrangling over who should succeed George Papandreou.

Prime Minister George Papandreou has said he will do whatever it takes to save the economy, no matter how painful.

"Failure to back the package would mean the beginning of our departure from the euro, " Mr Papandreou said.

For the second time in a year, Mr Papandreou is having to beg European leaders for billions of euros in emergency loans.

Papandreou was also accused of taking bribes from the bank owner.

Even some members of Papandreou's Socialist party are not behind his measures. On Thursday, two lawmakers from his party stepped down.

Papandreou is obviously trying to get the EU to step up with more cash.

Mr. Papandreou, in his announcement Monday, also called for a confidence vote on his government.

Even many Socialist voters are furious with Mr. Papandreou for putting Greece's place in Europein doubt.

Mr Samaras has repeatedly said he will not join a coalition unless Mr Papandreou resigns.

Mr Papandreou had threatened to call a snap general election if Pasok party fared badly.

In the end, Papandreou's own party colleagues rebelled against his idea for a plebiscite. He was forced out of office.

"Debt restructuring is not under discussion, " Papandreou said in an interview in Sunday newspaper Ethnos.

On a recent visit to Berlin, George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister, pleaded for such buy-backs to be on the negotiating table.

A vote on the austerity package is expected at the end of this month, but Mr. Papandreou must first survive a vote of confidence Tuesday.

It is unclear why exactly Papandreou decided to step up now and call for a referendum.

Papandreou vowed on Saturday to take any measure necessary to secure more funding for his country.

Greece is not a member of the G20, but Papandreou is in Cannes to explain his government's decision to the group's members.

But an angry EU response and a summons to the Cannes G20 summit for a reprimand led Mr Papandreou to back down.

With further drastic reforms on their way, Mr Papandreou may feel he needs to convince his own ranks more than public opinion.

Mr Papandreou was in part the author of his own misfortune.

All the indications are that George Papandreou will win his vote of confidence with a handful of seats to spare.

Everybody must understand the constraints on Mrs Merkel. But Mr Papandreou commits a "breach of trust" if he calls a referendum.

"We're not asking for a bailout, we're not asking for financial help from anyone, " Papandreou told reporters in Washington yesterday.

'If the opposition comes to the table and accepts the (bailout) agreement, then there is no need for a referendum, ' Mr. Papandreou said.

Since Mr Papandreou's referendum announcement, which robbed Greece of its remaining credibility, party unity has tumbled.

There is no disputing that Mr Papandreou, in spectacularly chaotic style, has left the euro zone racked by uncertainty.

On Thursday, Mr. Papandreou withdrew his proposal to let voters decide whether to approve the EU plan.

Papandreou and Samaras night on matters relating to the formation of a coalition government met with Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

Mr Papandreou was instructed to approve the last European bail-out deal or risk losing his loans and being ejected from the euro.

Mr Papandreou, a sociologist who dislikes figures, would much prefer to talk of Greece's "credibility deficit" .

Late on Oct. 31, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou threw a wrench into the works by saying he would call a referendum on the bailout.

In Athens talks to appoint a prime minister to succeed George Papandreou were in deadlock, and will resume on Thursday morning.

Mr. Papandreou added that Greece was facing 'very difficult and complicated' negotiations over the package.

Europe must keep moving forward toward permanent integration, build solidly on social justice and sustainable growth, " said Papandreou. "

Prime Minister George Papandreou has been pressing his EU peers to help reduce Greece's borrowing costs.

But Prime Minister George Papandreou suffered a blow on Tuesday when two ruling party lawmakers said they would vote against the measures.

The two prime ministers, Binyamin Netanyahu, an arch-capitalist, and George Papandreou, a socialist scion, have exchanged cosy visits.

Last week's reshuffle had brought in a group of tough political veterans in place of several of Mr Papandreou's personal friends.

Public opinion is, for the moment, on Mr Papandreou's side.

Instead, the Socialist government of George Papandreou is split over the prospect of yet more painful reforms.

Given the opposition by four Pasok deputies Tuesday, it is far from certain Papandreou will secure this majority.

Prime Minister George Papandreou says the deal would involve major sacrifices including cutting public sector salaries and pensions.

Sentiment will probably receive a boost after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou won a parliamentary confidence vote early Saturday.

However, Mr Papandreou's government faces a further vote on Thursday to secure fast-track implementation of the measures.

As angry demonstrators filled the squares of Athens, George Papandreou, the prime minister, narrowly won a vote of confidence in parliament.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou sealed a deal on Sunday with the opposition on forming a unity government, Reuters reported.

Two ruling Socialist Party members of parliament quit Thursday to protest Mr. Papandreou's handling of the of the economic crisis.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has likened the country's budget crisis to a wartime situation.

Late last week Mr. Papandreou shuffled his cabinet and appointed a Socialist stalwart, Evangelos Venizelos, as the new finance minister.

In his television address Mr Papandreou hinted that a higher retirement age would be one plank of reform.

Yet Mr Papandreou also accepts that Greece has made itself vulnerable, as it is "the euro zone's weakest link. "

Papandreou fully agreed with Tang on his positive assessment of bilateral relations.

Amid rising social unrest and fraying support in parliament, Mr. Papandreou proposed a referendum on the expanded bailout.

Mr. Papandreou's Socialist party has a majority of just four in parliament, following defections by two Socialist deputies in recent days.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou vows to push forward with cost-cutting measures, despite strong opposition.

It thus remains an open question whether the hapless Mr Papandreou can knit the country to pull together to share pain.

Yet Mr Papandreou accepts that Greece has made itself vulnerable, as it is "the euro-zone's weakest link" .

A first hurdle was a vote of confidence to endorse Mr Papandreou's proposed plebiscite.

He also expressed confidence in Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou to take the necessary measures.

True, the eurozone's leadership has disposed of George Papandreou's disruptive desire for democratic legitimacy.

Despite his U-turn on the referendum, Mr. Papandreou still faced a fight to survive a parliamentary vote of confidence due late Friday.

In 1985, under the older Mr Papandreou, Greece was bailed out by an emergency loan from Brussels.

Worse, the austerity measures and reforms that Mr Papandreou has pushed through are not visibly making anything better.

Greek leaders meeting in Athens fail to give cross-party support to Prime Minister George Papandreou's new austerity plan.

And most analysts in Greece doubt Mr. Papandreou will cling on to power for long, despite his proven tenacity.

'I can't believe that Papandreou still doesn't get it and insists on staying on, ' she said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Papandreou has asked his cabinet ministers resigned to form a new coalition government to pave the way.

Despite Papandreou's enthusiasm for the idea, actually buying a Greek island is maddeningly difficult.

George Papandreou, the prime minister, reshuffled his government and sought a vote of confidence to get the measures passed.

The prime minister George Papandreou, facing a violent unrest, told MPs that cash reserves would soon be exhausted.

Both candidates were hand-picked by George Papandreou, the prime minister, in a bid to bring fresh talent to local government.

Papandreou responded by saying he will reshuffle his Cabinet and seek a vote of confidence for his new government in parliament.

But Mr Papandreou commits a "breach of trust" if he calls a referendum.

This may be why George Papandreou, the prime minister, has told his cabinet to speed up reforms.

But times have changed. If the younger Mr Papandreou fails, Greece will surely be punished far more severely.

"Our partners will decisively contribute to provide Greece the safe harbour that will allow us to rebuild our ship, " added Mr Papandreou.

In place of the wayward George Papandreou, Greece now has Lucas Papademos, former vice-president of the European Central Bank.

But Papandreou warned that any failure to push through the plan might lead the country straight to default.

Imminent visits by Mr Papandreou to Berlin, Paris and Washington, DC, could help to resolve Greece's debt problem.

George Papandreou's government is isolated, and the ruling party has lost any ability to generate grassroots support.

Greece's centre-right opposition has demanded Prime Minister George Papandreou resign.

"Greece faces imminent bankruptcy, " Ms Papandreou warned.

The Greek press, including dailies traditionally friendly to the government, almost unanimously condemned Papandreou.

If the younger Mr Papandreou fails this time, Greece will surely be punished far more severely.

Although no sales have taken place since Papandreou first floated the idea, the possibilities are immense.

If Papandreou survives a vote of no confidence Friday, the stage will be set for months of further market instability.

There's a story circulating in Athens lately about George Papandreou, the Greek prime minister.

That said, Mr Papandreou's sudden pledge to hold a referendum is a mistake.

Trade unions in Greece have begun a 48-hour general strike, hours after PM George Papandreou urged parliament to back an austerity package.

It is an embarrassing climb-down for George Papandreou, the prime minister.

Asked about Le Monde's report, Papandreou said Greece was only looking for funds in the capital markets.

George Papandreou (pictured), the country's stoic prime minister, has not only moved jobs around, he has restructured his government.

The Papandreou government is praying the EU will come up with another $150 billion euros to keep Greece going for two more years.

Rumour has it that he is positioning himself to take over from Mr Papandreou.

Papandreou made deep cuts across public-sector spending, but two things went wrong.

Papandreou added he will continue on what he called the "road of duty, " together with his party members, officials, and the Greek people.

If Mr Papandreou is ousted or his government falls, a referendum becomes much less likely.

Nor were investors impressed by this week's promises by George Papandreou, the prime minister, to cut the deficit to under 3% by 2013.

In Greece, pressure is mounting on Prime Minister George Papandreou.

The Papandreou government is determined to correct the abuses of the past and it enjoys remarkable public support.

George Papandreou , the country's stoic prime minister, has not only moved jobs around, he has restructured his government.

By Greek standards Mr Papandreou has been courageous, but he should have been braver still.

Mr Papandreou has created an almighty mess, but he is better cast as the messenger than the villain.

Yet even some of Mr Papandreou's backers think he lacks boldness.

But Mr Papandreou faces four obstacles that threaten to abort his mission.

Analysts said Mr. Papandreou faces a struggle to survive in power in coming days.

Few Greeks doubt that Mr Papandreou is committed to rescuing the economy.

Advocacy and leadership will be key, said Papandreou, as will education.

Mr Papandreou visited Libya, winning a promise from Muammar Qaddafi to support projects in Greece.

First Mr Papandreou had to confront a hostile cabinet.

An ambitious constitutional lawyer, he is keen to succeed Mr Papandreou as Pasok leader.

Mr Papandreou's government consistently took the easy way out.

Papandreou said Greece had enough money to keep running until mid-December, when it has to redeem more than 6 billion euros in debt.

There is scarcely concealed anger over Mr Papandreou's handling of the crisis in EU capitals.

Left-wing parties rejected Mr Papandreou's call for national unity.

"We are negotiating in every way to lighten this debt, " Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

It is reported that Papandreou to Greek President Karolos Papoulias will soon submit a formal resignation.

Mr Papandreou's last gamble may have hastened his demise.

Both Mr Papandreou and Mr Samaras deserve some sympathy.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou won a parliamentary confidence vote Saturday with 153 votes to 144, AP reported.

That hasn't stopped his boss, George Papandreou, and other European leaders from jabbing fingers elsewhere .

Papandreou expressed gladness at Greece's contributions to the development of China-EU relations during its rotary presidency of the EU.

to do with whether we should get more maternity leave from Madame Papandreou than from Madame Thatcher. That is not the issue.

The good news for Mr Papandreou is that, so far, his approval ratings have held up.

In Greece, the reaction to Papandreou's policy was mixed.

The first is that Mr Papandreou must secure backing for a detailed reform programme.

Mr Papandreou faces a vote of confidence tonight (November 4th) that he may well lose.

Mr Papandreou is hoping that a vision of future prosperity will offset the misery of today's austerity.

It will be the second such vote for Mr. Papandreou after narrowly winning a mandate in June.

Mr. Papandreou rebuffed the call to resign.

Its new leader, Antonis Samaras, is a former foreign minister whose friendship with Mr Papandreou dates back to student days in America.

Mr Papandreou may have messed up his tactics, but he was right on one point.

Papandreou claims that a vote by the people is necessary given the major impact the latest European fix-it plan would have on Greece.

"Unprincipled speculators are making billions every day by betting on a Greek default, " said Mr Papandreou in a speech in Washington, DC.

Papandreou pointed to some initial successes: San Francisco was the first American city to install bike racks on all buses;

German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou at an EU summit in Brussels, June 17, 2010