The unhindered course towards the completion of the programme and the exit from the crisis is a top national policy priority, Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos said on Monday during a meeting with PASOK and Elia’s incumbent ministers and deputy ministers.

In relation to that, Venizelos noted according to party sources, the Greek President’s election is one of the most crucial issues as it determines the stability of the country and the course of its governance.

The government’s four-year term should be concluded and the effort should go all the way to 2016, when the programme is completed, Venizelos stressed and added that the issue of the Greek President’s elections is not about persons but the parties and deputies’ obligation for stability.

According to the same sources, Venizelos criticized main opposition SYRIZA of having a “civil war rationale” and its leader Alexis Tsipras of touring Europe to conduct a European campaign against the country.

He reiterated that PASOK – following the message of the elections in Greece and Europe and the government’s reshuffle – is the one that assures a progressive orientation, the one that has promoted central pillars, such as reforms, growth, liquidity and employment and that PASOK wishes to express the national unity and reunite the nation. He underlined that the main objectives are maintained, which among others are concession, a national debt negotiation group, the implementation of five points, the support of the real economy, social issues, entrepreneurship and liquidity.

Regarding the negotiations with the troika, Venizelos said, according to the same sources, that the issues of mobility fall within the wider context of talks and negotiations with the troika, which related to debt sustainability as well as fiscal and other issues that could be raised again.

He also noted that “we are not denying the memorandum obligations we have signed to date, but at the same time we must improve the course of things when they don’t bring any results” citing the example of companies’ social insurance contributions.

He said that the fact that targets are being accomplished does not rule out problems and added that this meant the effort should be completed unhindered.

Regarding the role of PASOK’s government officials, he said there should be coordination and pointed out that they are not simply ministers or deputy ministers but they also represent the party.