MR. PAPANDREOU, THE FIRST CALLER, ARRIVING AND LEAVING BY CAR, AND THEN LIKEWISE FOR MR. CANELLOPOULOS.




Initials



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Background: TWO MEN WHO CAN DECIDE GREECE'S POLITICAL FATE WENT TO THE ROYAL PALACE IN ATHENS LAST NIGHT (THURSDAY) TO SEEKING CONSTANTINE. THEY WERE MR. GEORGE PAPANDREOU, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF THE CENTRE UNION PARTY, AND THE RIGHT-WING NATIONAL RADICAL UNION LEADER, MR. PANAYOTIS CANELLOPOULOS.

THEY WENT TO THE PALACE ONLY HOURS AFTER THE DOWNFALL OF MR. NOVA'S THREE-WEEK-OLD GOVERNMENT. AND BOTH LEADERS WENT WITH THE SAME REQUEST: A RETURN TO CENTRE UNION RULE.

MR. PAPANDREOU, WHOSE CENTRE UNION HOLDS 147 OF PARLIAMENT'S 300 SEATS, SAID HE ASKED THE KING FOR A MANDATE TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT OR, FAILING THAT, A FRESH GENERAL ELECTION.

MR. CANELLOPOULOS' NATIONAL RADICALS HOLD 99 SEATS. HE URGED THE KING TO FORM A GOVERNMENT FROM THE CENTRE UNION, THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY UNDER MR. PAPANDREOU. OTHERWISE ELECTIONS WOULD BE THE ONLY ANSWER.

TODAY, KING CONSTANTINE IS DUE TO SEE LEADERS OF THE UNITED DEMOCRATIC LEFT 22 SEATS - AND THE EIGHT-SEAT PROGRESSIVES.

(THE CENTRE UNION GOVERNMENT WAS OUSTED THREE WEEKS AGO FOLLOWING A DISPUTE BETWEEN THE YOUNG MONARCH AND 77-YEAR-OLD MR. PAPANDREOU).