Mr. Papademos, the sole technocrat in a coalition of feuding politicians, tried to assert his authority after six cabinet members resigned over European Union and International Monetary Fund demands for yet more pay, pension and job cuts in return for the financial rescue.
“It goes without saying that whoever disagrees and does not vote for the new program cannot remain in the government,” he said in televised remarks.
Greece faces bankruptcy unless it gets the funds from the IMF and EU by March 20 when it has to repay €14.5-billion in maturing bonds.
A former central banker, Mr. Papademos tried to raise Greeks’ spirits as the nation enters its fifth year of recession, saying economic growth would return in 2013 despite accusations that the austerity is merely driving Greece into a downward spiral.
Any alternative to the rescue would be much worse, he said in opening remarks using the word “catastrophe” four times.
However the biggest police trade union said it would issue arrest warrants for Greece’s international lenders for subverting democracy, and refused to “fight against our brothers.” A daily newspaper depicted German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a Nazi uniform with a swastika armband.
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