Greece’s president is to convene a broader meeting with the heads of several political parties Tuesday in a final push to find agreement on forming a government, more than a week after elections gave no party a majority in parliament.
President Karolos Papoulias met with the heads of the conservative New Democracy, socialist PASOK and Democratic Left parties Monday in the eighth day of talks to resolve the deadlock. The leaders said the president had suggested creating a government of technocrats or “personalities,” and will convene another meeting with the heads of more parties Tuesday to seek support.
Greek Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos said on Monday he was not optimistic that a coalition government could be formed a week after an inconclusive election but urged all parties participating in talks to fight until a solution was reached.
“Things are very difficult. I’m not optimistic,” Venizelos said after a second day of talks between party leaders and the country’s president foundered over disagreement about an international bailout keeping the country afloat.
The leaders of Greece’s two anti-bailout leftist parties that entered parliament in a May 6 election said they will attend a third day of talks on Tuesday with President Karolos Papoulias that have so far failed to form a government.
Spokesman Panos Skourletis of the radical leftist SYRIZA group said it would attend the talks, as did Fotis Kouvelis, leader of the smaller and more moderate Democratic Left.
If no deal can be reached, elections must be called for next month. The political uncertainty has roiled European markets and left Greece’s continued participation in the euro in serious doubt.
(source: AP, Reuters)
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