Greek PM Faces Scrutiny Ahead of Confidence Vote
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, who controversially called for a public vote on a European-led financial bailout, is the subject of conflicting reports about a possible resignation ahead of a confidence vote on Friday.
He is considering the possibility of forming a new government and will speak to the country’s president, according to a report.
"I think the Prime Minister is coming to terms that he can't carry on leading the country,” a cabinet member close to Papandreou told the Wall Street Journal. “He is looking into whether and how a national unity [administration] could be formed. He may visit the President of the Republic to discuss this as early as today."
However Papandreou’s chief of staff denied the prime minister intended to resign, according to Reuters.
Papandreou called for an emergency cabinet meeting at noon on Thursday, according to the New York Times.
On Wednesday, Papandreou met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Both publicly said the choice of accepting or rejecting the bailout package would determine choose whether it wants to accept the package and as a consequence remain in the Eurozone monetary union.