Deputy Premier Evangelos Venizelos stated on Sunday night that Tsipra’s “blackmail”, i.e. his request for a referendum on the national strategy “was clearly rejected”, based on the combined results of European, municipal and regional elections.

“Society has obviously sent us strong messages which we understand, empathize with and respect,” said Mr. Evangelos Venizelos adding that it is imperative to update the programme agreement of the coalition government. “It is our job and my personal responsibility to ensure the democratic character of the government policy. We must achieve the target of national reconstruction focusing first on tackling unemployment,” he said.

In this context, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that he plans to ask the President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr. Karolos Papoulias to take initiatives in order to promote national unity, beyond the limits of the coalition government.

When asked to comment on the percentages received by Elia in the Elections, Evangelos Venizelos said that the enemies of stability were proved wrong. However, he noted that the party’s history does not match these percentages. “The base of the party sent a message to those who know that we are the foundation of stability and hate us for it” he said.

Referring to the future of the democratic forces, PASOK leader stressed the need to have unity, adding that “the door is open for the rallying of the democratic lineup.”

Referring to SYRIZA Mr. Venizelos said that it reached its ceiling in 2012 and argued that the staged polarization was ignored by the majority of the citizens.

He also expressed his satisfaction because the people have rejected those who wanted to create the crisis, as he urged the voters to do last Sunday.