Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos decided yesterday to seek vote for confidence attempting to show off their parliamentary strength and dismiss any rumours about early elections and postpone the term of the current government at least until next February, when Presidential elections are scheduled to take place.

Apart from the fact that this move is a challenge for those who question the leadership of the two coalition parties, it is also a symbolic move showing that the government is determined to reach the constitutional deadline for the presidential election.

The decision taken by Antonis Samaras and Evangelos Venizelos that “the election of the new President will move forward according to the constitutional process and practice, ie one month before the expiry of the term of the current President, namely in February 2015,” proves that they are certain about the vote of confidence. They also wanted to sent a message both to Greece and abroad that they are confident of gathering the 180 votes required for the election of President of Hellenic Republic and thus avoid early elections.