Venizelos to Lead Greek Socialist Party. Obama wants "United Socialist America" like Greece.

[Brian Teller]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577275561
591269998.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

ATHENS—Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos is set to
become the new leader of the Socialist party as the country
heads to the polls next month after completing a mammoth debt
restructuring.

Mr. Venizelos emerged Sunday as the only candidate to head the
Socialists, also known as Pasok, after two rivals failed to
garner the necessary support.

"Mr. Venizelos is the only candidate for the position," a party
official said. "His election as party president will be formally
ratified in a party vote to be held across the country March 18."

Until then, former Prime Minister George Papandreou will stay on
as president, the official said.

Greece's interim government, backed by Pasok and the
conservative New Democracy party, took power in November with
the task of bringing the country's €130 billion ($170 billion)
bailout to fruition. Last week Greece clinched a debt swap with
private-sector creditors, satisfying a condition for the fresh
aid. Top European Union officials have indicated they will
approve the second bailout for the cash-strapped nation in
coming days.

New Democracy President Antonis Samaras, who is most likely to
become Greece's next prime minister, repeated calls Sunday for
immediate elections, saying they should be held after the
Orthodox Easter on April 15.

He spoke of speculation that the elections would be put off
until September, or worse, until next year. "Today, we all know
that elections will take place straight after Easter," he said,
without giving an exact date.

Government officials have said elections will be held in April.

With Greeks angry at how their politicians have handled the
crisis that erupted in late 2009, the two main parties have
their work cut out for them.

Recent surveys show that voters continue to throw their support
behind smaller, fringe parties as support for mainstream
politicians withers.

A survey showed earlier this month that nine political
parties—up from five currently—would gather enough support to
pass the minimum 3% threshold needed to enter parliament.

The same poll showed that the New Democracy party continues to
lead in public opinion, getting 28% of the vote, but not enough
to form a governing majority in the 300-member parliament even
with a 50-seat bonus awarded to the leading party under Greece's
electoral system.

It also showed that the Socialist party would get just 11% of
the vote, up three percentage points from a month ago, but still
close to historic lows for the party.