Wikileaks: Viewing cable 07ATHENS512, OPPOSITION PASOK'S NEW PLATFORM

Viewing cable 07ATHENS512, OPPOSITION PASOK'S NEW PLATFORM -- READY FOR

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Reference ID	Created	Released	Classification	Origin
07ATHENS512	2007-03-09 15:04	2011-08-30 01:44	CONFIDENTIAL	Embassy Athens

VZCZCXRO1228
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTH #0512 0681504
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 091504Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8400
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ATHENS 000512 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/08/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV GR
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PASOK'S NEW PLATFORM -- READY FOR 
ELECTIONS? 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBIN QUINVILLE.  REASON:  1.4 (B) A 
ND (D). 
 
¶1.   (C)  SUMMARY:  Opposition PASOK leader George 
Papandreou's new electoral party platform, introduced March 
3-4 at a stadium-sized rally, contains a mix of ambitious 
proposals ranging from smaller government to 24/7 universal 
health care.  Some press critics have dubbed it the "Sego 
platform," claiming that it is too expensive and unrealistic. 
 With most voters focusing on pocketbook issues, Papandreou 
will need to convince wary voters that he can fund the 
changes he's proposing -- without adding to their economic 
burden.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  At a March 3-4 meeting of some 15,000 PASOK party 
members, opposition leader George Papandreou announced his 
new electoral party platform.  Developed over the past 
several months by trusted Papandreou advisor Anna 
Diamandopoulou (formerly a Greek EU Commissioner), the 
sweeping program contains ambitious proposals designed to 
appeal beyond PASOK's traditional base.  Key points include: 
 
--  Smaller government with fewer ministries and reform of 
local goverment through administrative re-districting; 
--  New laws on transparency and public spending; 
--  Educational reform and increased spending on schools; 
--  free internet access for all citizens; 
--  tax reform, including increased taxation of the wealthy; 
--  a minimal pension for all Greeks over age 65 who meet a 
set income threshold (as well as minimum pension for all 
farmers); 
--  universal government-run medical care "24/7, 365;" 
--  establishment of a Ministry for the Environment and new 
measures for environmental protection. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Papandreou accused the Karamanlis government of 
nurturing special interests, lying to the Greek people and 
endangering the future of the country.  He also -- indirectly 
-- castigated the media for portraying PASOK as "uneducated, 
unprepared and unable." 
 
¶4.  (U)  The press, in turn, has begun calling the proposals 
the "Sego platform."  Echoing critics of French socialist 
presidential candidate Segolene Royal's platform, they argue 
that PASOK's platform is both too expensive and unrealistic. 
As one veteran radio comentator put it:  "This must be a 
platform for another country we do not know, one with plenty 
of cash to spare." 
 
¶5.  (C)  COMMENT:  Papandreou's platform is meant to 
demonstrate his ability to unify factions and lead the party 
firmly in a new, "modern" direction.  While it was originally 
scheduled for unveiling at the end of January, Papandreou 
held off, conducting broad internal consultations on the 
final product.  While it may now have backing from  (most) of 
PASOK's fractious party leadership, it's an open question 
whether it will draw voters from beyond the party's 
traditional base.   With pocketbook issues a key theme for 
the elections, Papandreou will need to demonstrate to cynical 
Greek voters that PASOK can implement some of its more 
far-reaching proposals without added cost to the average 
household. 
RIES