00:49Greece: Opposition leader Meimarakis receives mandate to form new government
Greece's main opposition leader Vangelis Meimarakis met with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to discuss the formation of an interim government, in Athens on Friday, the day after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tendered his resignation.
Meimarakis received a three-day mandate from the president to reach a coalition agreement in order to avoid new elections next month. The New Democracy leader said a fresh election would “not [be] helpful in any way” and Parliament should instead focus on finding a “substantial and serious political solution” to Greece's crisis.
While Meimarakis intends to form a new government it is unlikely New Democracy will be able to cobble together enough coalition partners to do so. Tsipras declared that he would seek re-election and continue his government programme, saying it is “time for the sovereign people to get the power" and choose who best represents their interests.
The government shake up follows a Greek parliament vote in favour of a third bailout by its creditors - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In securing votes for the bailout, 43 Syriza MPs out of 149 rebelled against the party-line of Tsipras.
00:49Greece's main opposition leader Vangelis Meimarakis met with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos to discuss the formation of an interim government, in Athens on Friday, the day after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tendered his resignation.
Meimarakis received a three-day mandate from the president to reach a coalition agreement in order to avoid new elections next month. The New Democracy leader said a fresh election would “not [be] helpful in any way” and Parliament should instead focus on finding a “substantial and serious political solution” to Greece's crisis.
While Meimarakis intends to form a new government it is unlikely New Democracy will be able to cobble together enough coalition partners to do so. Tsipras declared that he would seek re-election and continue his government programme, saying it is “time for the sovereign people to get the power" and choose who best represents their interests.
The government shake up follows a Greek parliament vote in favour of a third bailout by its creditors - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. In securing votes for the bailout, 43 Syriza MPs out of 149 rebelled against the party-line of Tsipras.