Kostas Karamanlis

On a lightning visit to Athens on Wednesday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy expressed support for his Greek counterpart Antonis Samaras and defended the tough economic program the outgoing government has been pursuing under the supervision of foreign creditors, saying the reforms were ?necessary? and had ?produced results,? advising Greeks to ignore ?impossible? promises.

Former conservative Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Wednesday said voting for New Democracy was the best bet to keep Greece stable and to ensure the continuation of reforms.

?The country needs more than ever political stability and far reaching reforms,? Karamanlis said in a rare statement.

The crisis did not come without warning. Former Premier Costas Karamanlis knew serious fiscal measures were needed in spring 2009 to avoid bankruptcy but failed to act due to electoral concerns. George Papandreou refused Karamanlis’s offer to reach a consensus in March 2009, triggering snap elections.

Just a day after Independent Greeks MPs agreed to back party leader Panos Kammenos and not vote for any presidential candidate the coalition puts forward in February, lawmaker Panayiotis Melas appeared unsure about his stance on Wednesday.

“If a president is not elected and we go to national elections, this would be a drag on the economy,” said Melas.

Ahead of a confidence vote designed to douse speculation about early elections, conservative coalition leader New Democracy will on Saturday celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding in an event that is widely expected to serve as a bid to revive the party’s flagging political fortunes.

Theodoros Roussopoulos, formerly government spokesman under one-time conservative premier Costas Karamanlis, is to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of New Democracy on Saturday.

The function is to take place at the Onassis Foundation's House of Arts and Letters on Syngrou Avenue, not far from ND's headquarters.

Former New Democracy leaders Costas Karamanlis and Constantine Mitsotakis (photo) will take part in the events the party will hold in the next few days to mark the 40th anniversary of its founding, Kathimerini has learned.

By Costas Iordanidis

The ongoing crisis has challenged the fundamentals of Greece’s political system – a situation to which parties have often responded with cheap tricks.

Greece moves to open coast for development

Environmentalists oppose the new measures, citing the need to preserve beaches and the public's right to access to the coast.

Citizen groups are mounting opposition to government plans to allow development on Greece's coastline, saying it is more important to protect the environment there.

By Nikos Konstandaras