Greek socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos was tasked today by President Carolos Papoulias with forming a government after efforts by other parties failed in the wake of inconclusive weekend polls.
Euro zone governments kept Greece afloat after agreeing a payment of 5.2 billion euros (4.17 billion pounds) from the region’s bailout fund, despite opposition from some member states following the Greek election results. Meanwhile, socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos began a last-gasp attempt to form a government after failed Sunday elections.
After a conference call, the board of the European Financial Stability Facility, the 700 billion euro bailout fund administered by the 17 countries that use the euro, agreed to make the scheduled payment, which will allow Greece to meet near-term bond redemptions and other obligations.
An initial 4.2 billion euros is expected for today, while the remaining 1 billion will be paid out later, «depending on the financing needs of Greece,» a statement said But, in a sign of growing displeasure at the impasse in Athens, a further 1 billion euros was withheld, probably until next month.
Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos began a last-gasp attempt to form a government today but Greece seemed to be moving inexorably towards new elections after voters rejected an international bailout, plunging the country into crisis.
Venizelos is the third and last political leader to attempt to form a government after Sunday’s election, which left pro- and anti-bailout forces balanced almost equally.
Venizelos acknowledged he only had a slim chance in remarks to his parliamentary group, reduced to about a quarter of its former strength by elections in which voters punished his party and conservative New Democracy for imposing harsh austerity in exchange for a 130-billion-euro ($168-billion) EU/IMF bailout.
He said he would make every effort to form a coalition, or if not at least help the president try to find a unity government. That would be the last stage before new elections are called in three or four weeks.
As political efforts hit deadlock, new data underlined the depth of Greece’s five-year recession, one of the worst in post-war Europe.
buenosairesherald.com