HC Deb 25 March 1946 vol 421 cc4-6
7. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many polling stations there are in Greece.

Mr. McNeil

There are about 3,000 polling stations in Greece.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Is there adequate hospital accommodation?

Lieut.-Colonel Dower

Does the Minister consider that this number of polling stations is adequate?

Mr. McNeil

My information is that this number has proved adequate in the past.

9. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which official parties in Greece intend to take part in the forthcoming elections; and which official parties have declared their intention not to take par.

Mr. McNeil

Since the list is lengthy I propose, with permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the list:

The following Parties are contesting the elections forming three main groups:

A. United Coalition of Nationalist Parties comprising:

  1. 1. Populist Party.
  2. 2. National Liberal Party.
  3. 3. National Reform Party.
  4. 4. Party of Patriotic Union.
  5. 5. National Reconstruction Party.
  6. 6. Panhellenic National Party.
  7. 7. Embros Political Group.
  8. 8. Nationalist Workmen.
  9. 9. Social Radical Union.

B. National Political Union comprising:

  1. 1. Socialist Democratic Party.
  2. 2. National Union Party.
  3. 3. Party of Venizelist Liberals.
  4. 4. Republican Union.

C. The Liberal Party.

In addition to those three main groups the Agrarian Party under M. Mylonas and the National Party of Greece under General Zervas will be standing separately.

It is also reported that the following Parties will be presenting candidates in the Athens area:

  1. 1. Middle Class and Agrarian Private Ownership Party.
  2. 2. National Resistance Party of X-ites.
  3. 3. Orthodox Coalition of Greeks.
  4. 4. Patriotic Party of Reservists.
  5. 5. Independent Party of National Unity.
  6. 6. Social Party of Greece.

The following Parties have announced their intention of abstaining from the elections:

  1. A.E.A.M. Coalition.
  2. B.The Socialist Party (SKELD) under Professor Svolos.
  3. C. The Left Liberal Group.
  4. D. The Left Democratic Union.
  5. E. The Progressive Party.