ATHENS, Greece — Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou survived a confidence vote early today, calming a vicious revolt in his Socialist party with an emotional pledge to step aside if necessary and seek a cross-party government lasting four months to safeguard a new European debt agreement.
Papandreou won the critical parliamentary confidence motion 153-145 after a week of drama in Athens that horrified Greece’s European partners, spooked global markets and overshadowed the Group of 20 summit.
The threat of a Greek default or exit from the common euro currency has worsened the continent’s debt crisis. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who warned that the debt-ridden country still faced “mortal danger,” said the new government would last until the end of February.
But main opposition leader Antonis Samaras, who had demanded Papandreou resign and a new government be formed that did not include members of any political party, called for snap elections. He did not say whether his conservative party would join coalition talks.
Struggling to face down the revolt, Papandreou insisted his main concern was to save the country. He insisted he was not concerned with retaining the premiership but warned that elections now would have been “catastrophic,” jeopardizing Greece’s continued bailout funding, the new debt deal and the country’s euro membership.
He sought the vote of confidence “to safeguard a steady course for the country.”
