1989, the socialists saw their eight-year rule crumble under the weight of a major political­economic scandal and uncertainty over the faltering health of their leader and hitherto prime minister, Andreas Papandreou. Nevertheless, proportional representation denied the resurgent right a workable majority in parliament after its first electoral triumph in June. At the same time, the urgency of carrying out its pledge for a 'catharsis' - purge - of a scandal-ridden political landscape forced Mitsotakis into an unprecedented tight-left coalition government under ND veteran Tzannis Tzannetakis (R) on July 1st. The bipartisan cabinet, which only included ND and Left Coalition cadres at the exclusion of Pasok politicians, lasted long enough to impeach Papandreou and four of his ministers. The latter were ordered in late September to stand trial before a Special High Court on corruption charges arising from their alleged involvement in the Bank of Crete embezzlement scandal. The Tzannetakis government resigned on October 7 to pave the way for another fruitless election victory for Mitsotakis' party on November 5, which led to the formation of a new coalition government headed by veteran economist and former central banker, Xenophon Zolotas (L)

Dimitris Yannopoulos

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