'There can be no delay for self-evident reforms,' President says in meeting with interior minister

"The time is very dense, the crisis very deep and the reforms are necessary in order for us to find our way the soonest possible. Some people may think that we can afford to postpone them for the future. We have no such luxury nor the right," Pavlopoulos said.

He said Manitakis was right to continue the work begun by previous governments and have this ready on the day after the elections, so that the government that emerged could then make its own assessment, within the framework of its responsibilities.

Manitakis noted that the caretaker government's top priority was to ensure that elections were held smoothly and that preparations for this had already begun. The aim was to ensure a calm atmosphere ahead of the polls, which will allow Greek men and women to make a clear-headed choice with a sense of responsibility and an awareness of the crucial nature of the issues facing the country.

The second priority was to press ahead with the planning of essential structural reforms, Manitakis explained, working with the plans prepared by the previous governments over the years, including the last one, in collaboration with the European Commission.

He said the caretaker government would continue pushing these plans through and deliver them to the new government that is coming, while noting that these plans appeared "quite complete."

"All that remains now is for the future government to take over this reform plan, work on it and adjust it, for political power to appropriate it and public administration to implement it consistently," he added.