"The 'red line' for salaries and pensions is not an issue up for negotiation," government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis underlined on Tuesday, stressing that "by keeping our eyes fixed on our goals we see that there is no reason to talk about new measures."

He pointed out that "the apparently upward revision of the 2009 deficit will not bring more measures," clarifying that there will be "no more salary and pension cuts."

Speaking during a regular press briefing in Athens and in response to repeated queries, Petalotis said that the government is trying to avoid implementation of measures that have been already scheduled for 2011, by considering alternative scenarios.

Referring to the upcoming Nov. 7 local government elections, Petalotis said that "in the period we are going through there is no vote of discontent but, on the contrary, there is a vote for political stability."

He stated that "the citizens do not want their sacrifices to go to waste and jeopardise the future of their children by leading the country back to 'point zero'."

He underlined that there was "no blackmail on behalf of the prime minister," stressing that during his all-channel televised interview on Monday evening "the premier underscored the responsibility we all have in view of the elections."

The government spokesman said "the state of alert is still on and consequences will be fateful if the country's course out of the crisis is upset."

"It is clear that the government's intention is to continue a difficult course and not call early elections," he said, adding that "we all need to realize the usefulness of this course."