A main opposition ND spokesman on Thursday sharply criticised PM George Papandreou for the hiring of a handful of high-profile foreign consultants attached to the premier's office, as he said.

"Obviously, there is money (available), as the prime minister said during the pre-election campaign. Not, of course, for wage-earners or pensioners, but for Mr. Papandreou to hire armies of consultants for his personal office, burdening the Greek taxpayer with hundreds of thousands of euros every year in expenditures," spokesman Panos Panayiotopoulos said.

On his part, Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) MP Dimitris Papadimoulis also referred to an article published in an Athens daily charging that the premier has decided to hire an additional 20 advisers and associates for his political office

Papadimoulis demanded to know from relevant ministers and the prime minister why the latter was proceeded with the hirings; the exact role for each new hired individual as well as the total and individual salaries for each.