The Greek government’s efforts to secure a sufficient number of votes in favor of Stavros Dimas candidacy in the first round of presidential elections, which will take place today, continue up to this moment, with secret talks between New Democracy MPs and independent deputies.

Today’s vote is considered a barometer for future political developments and major coalition government partner ND wants to generate a momentum that will ensure victory at the last vote, to take place on December 29. For this reason, New Democracy MPs have been talking in the last few days with a small group of independent deputies as well as ANEL and DIMAR MPs, hoping to persuade them to vote for Mr. Dimas.

Five independent deputies who are center-right in ideological preference have been discussing lately the possibility of adopting a common stance in today’s vote. One of them, Mr. Yiannis Kourakos stated yesterday evening that he is willing to vote “yes” provided that the prime minister convinces him that he is not after early national elections.

According to information, those five independent MPs are thinking of writing a text that promotes national understanding and proposes the forming of a special purpose government, until the next national elections. In their talks with ND deputies, they have already proposed this solution to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his refusal has been interpreted by some as willingness to lead the country to early elections.