国际英语新闻：Greek PM not to call snap general elections after Sunday's crucial local elections

ATHENS, Nov. 7 (Xinhua)-- Greek people reaffirmed their will for change in the country and the government is determined to proceed non stop, said Greek Prime Ministry George Papandreou on Sunday evening, but he did not make any reference to staging snap general elections in the short future.

He made the remarks in his first comment on the outcome of the first round of crucial local elections held on Sunday which turned into a referendum for the socialist government's policies.

"Today voters reaffirmed that they want change. We continue our work. We focus on the target to create a viable national economy and make decisions for our country free of foreign economic dependence and auditors," said the Greek premier in a statement broadcast live on local television channels from the government's headquarters.

Greek Prime Ministry George Papandreou makes a remarks on the outcome of the first round of crucial local elections, in Athens, Greece, Nov. 7, 2010. Greek people reaffirmed their will for change in the country and the government is determined to proceed non stop, Papandreou said on Sunday evening, but he did not make any reference to staging snap general elections in the short future.

Noting that he took over after last year's general elections in the most difficult period for the country and Greek households for decades, Papandreou called on all Greeks to unite in the effort to overcome an acute debt crisis that threatened Greece with default this year, so they will secure a better future.

"We know change is not an easy process," added the Greek leader replying to Greeks dissatisfaction with harsh austerity measures, arguing that this process must be finished and major challenges should be addressed by all society united.

Repeating his government's determination to continue to put the Greek economy in order, he stressed that there is not an easy way or magic solution, but a plan and will to succeed, so that Greece will exit the crisis in 2013.

"We move on. We do not stop," Papandreou concluded, calling on Greeks to participate in the second round of municipal and regional elections on Nov. 14, after acknowledging that big abstention should be taken seriously into consideration. According to early official results abstention surpassed 50 percent in some regions.

Candidates need to secure a majority of 50 percent plus one to be elected in the first round of local elections in Greece. Otherwise a second round is held on Nov. 14.

Ruling socialist PASOK party has a lead in the local poll, according to early official results released by the Greek Interior Ministry officials earlier on Sunday evening.

Papandreou waited for these partial predictions to see if PASOK suffers big losses to reach a decision on calling or not for early general elections.

With 10 percent of the vote counted, PASOK candidates are ahead in 8 of 13 battles for regional governors, including the most important Attica region.

Main opposition conservative New Democracy party has the lead in five regions.

Greek political analysts stress that even though Greeks are disappointed and angry with the government's economic policy, they do not want early general elections that could create a climate of uncertainty which could threaten the country's prospects of exiting the crisis in three years.