Western Europe: Supplement - Greece - Everything To Play For - Greece's Newly Elected Conservative Government Has Pledged To Boost Growth And Reduce Unemployment. However, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis Has More Pressing Issues To Contend With First - N.

Banker, The, April, 2004

With Greece's centre-right New Democracy party back in power, a bid to find strategic investors for state-controlled banks is back on the government's agenda -but not until this summer's Olympic games in Athens are over.

In the March 7 general election, voters opted for change, after almost 11 years of Socialist government. Swept into power by a margin of almost five percentage points, the conservatives have an unexpectedly strong mandate. But Costas Karamanlis, at 47 Greece's youngest ever prime minister, faces a steep learning curve.

The good news is that Greece's economy is growing faster than projected. Growth last year reached 4.8% of gross domestic product, the European Union's highest rate, touching 5% in the final quarter. This year's...

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