By Martin Banks - 7th November 2011
Leadership is defined by actions
Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
Party of European Socialists' president Poul Nyrup Rasmussen has "warmly praised" the vote of confidence for Greek prime minister George Papandreou.
Rasmussen, a former Danish MEP, appealed to the Greeks to focus on "the urgent need for national unity in government and a national unity of purpose".
His comments comes as Greek political leaders resumed talks on Monday on appointing a new PM and coalition government to clear the way for a bailout package which would ease the country's eurozone debt crisis.
The talks come in the wake of Papandreou's decision to stand down after days of upheaval caused by his decision – now revoked – to hold a referendum on the EU bailout plan.
Papandreou narrowly won a confidence vote on Friday but had been under continuing pressure to resign amid chaos over the debt crisis.
Reaction to the latest events in Greece was swift with Rasmussen, a former Danish PM, saying, "Leadership is defined by actions and courage and humility.
"Papandreou has shown outstanding courage, he has acted decisively, and he has done so, as he has always done, with the interests of the Greek people at heart. It is with the same sense of national responsibility that the entire parliamentary group of PASOK".
He said Papandreou had "not only wrestled with the crisis for almost two years, but had taken enormous steps to put the Greek economy and Greek society on a sustainable footing."
Rasmussen contrasted Papandreou's actions with the "petty posturing" of opposition leader Antonis Samaras, and said that by pulling out of the proceeding before the vote of confidence, Samaras has "yet again demonstrated a real lack of leadership".
Rasmussen added, "By turning his back on the urgent appeal of Papandreou to join forces across the political spectrum, and calling for immediate elections at this critical juncture for Greece, Samaras has shown the extent of his irresponsibility."
Turning to the European dimension, Rasmussen said, "We should not forget that almost two years of chronic short-termism, led by the leaders of France and Germany, have led to this situation. The contrast with George's actions tonight could not be clearer. This vote is a victory based on true leadership".
Meanwhile, the increasing possibility of the Cyprus economy being downgraded as been liked to the "latest domino to fall" by Sony Kapoor of Re-Define, an economic think tank.
He said, "Without the ECB stepping up to its job of being a guardian of the euro, the future of the euro area looks very bleak indeed."
"Unless the EFSF is allowed to directly recapitalise EU banks, troubled EU banks and sovereigns will continue to drag each other down in a spiral of death."
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