Deputy Prime Minister and socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos said on Saturday that the main aim of his party is to receive a third mandate to form a government and to be catalytic towards developments. “PASOK is the guardian of the country’s national strategy,” said Mr. Venizelos, speaking at a meeting with party secretaries at a central hotel in Athens. He noted that PASOK isn’t “hooked” on power, but instead under an obligation to deliver the country intact on election day. He said that it is up to the people to determine their fate, adding that this is “the moment of truth where you have to prove all that you say and that’s where we’ll get to know each other again.”

Mr. Papandreou noted that his party was heading towards elections with a very clear and succinct political position and line which is real at a time when reality is difficult. The party’s program will be presented next Saturday.

He commented on the former PM and head of PASOK George Papandreou’s decision to form a new party. “PASOK is asked to give a battle in tough conditions because, apart from everything else, we have the decision of Mr. Papandreou to form his own private party, something which had been decided for some time and there was no need for us to keep up appearances,” he said.