The results of the second vote for the election of a President of the Republic to take place tomorrow, December 23, will show just how effective was Prime Minister Antonis Samaras decision to call for political consensus last Sunday, offering to broaden the composition of the government until the next national elections by the end of 2015.

Samaras’ proposal moves in the same direction with the initiative conceived by eight MPs, including 5 Independent deputies S. Lykoudis, H. Aidonis, G. Psarianos, P. Tatsopoulos and V. Economou and 3 DIMAR deputies, N. Tsoukalis, T. Psyras and N. Founta that was announced a long time ago. It should be noted that this initiative was also supported by many deputies from the coalition government.

The government believes that the morbid political climate of the recent days, following ANEL deputy Chaikalis allegations of attempted bribery, may mobilize the Greek deputies to seek solutions that will avert snap national elections.

Shortly after the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday, several Independent MPs announced that they welcome the PM’s proposal, despite its immediate rejection by opposition parties SYRIZA, AN.EL. and DIMAR and the government is now hopeful that the third and crucial vote on December 29 will result in the election of a President.

Their intention to join the 160 deputies who voted for Stavros Dimas in the first round expressed Vassilis Economou, Yannis Kourakos and Panagiotis Melas who had previously voted “present.” They are likely to be followed by Yorgos Kasapidis, Costas Giovanopoulos and Mika Iatridi.