A coalition government could be formed by mid-Wednesday in Greece, the head of the country’s socialist party Eleftherios Venizelos said Tuesday, easing the nation from political limbo as it struggles to deal with a financial crisis that has affected Europe’s economy and markets around the world.
“We discussed all political issues, we have made progress and we will continue talks tomorrow at 1000 GMT,” socialist PASOK party official Kostas Skandalidis said after talks ended.
PASOK will convene its deputies Wednesday morning to define exactly how the party will participate, he said.
“The most important issue is not the government’s composition, but the national negotiating team that will strive to achieve the best possible revision of the loan agreement so that we can keep all the positives and to counter the recession and unemployment and to bring positive growth and jobs,” Venizelos said.
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras will be the next Prime Minister of Greece as initial objections by the leaders of PASOK and DIM.AR have now faded.
Samaras’ three-day mandate to form a government expires Wednesday night. If it fails, Syriza would get a chance to form a government, followed by the Socialists. But Tsipras has said he will pass on the mandate and not even try to form a government. Venizelos has advocated circumventing the entire process and proceeding straight to a meeting of party leaders under President Karolos Papoulias.
The winner of the last June 17th elections, New Democracy, broadly favors Greece meeting international debt obligations, while PASOK and DIM.AR certainly want Greece to stay in the Eurozone.
(source: AP, Reuters)
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