Left gets historic chance to pull Greece out of limbo

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Left gets historic chance to pull Greece out of limbo

By Dina Kyriakidou

ATHENS | Mon May 7, 2012 5:43pm EDT

(Reuters) - Greece's Left Coalition party will get an historic chance on Tuesday to form a government opposed to the country's EU/IMF bailout, after the mainstream conservatives failed to cobble together a coalition following a shock inconclusive election.

Alexis Tsipras, whose party was catapulted into second place by voters angry with austerity, will take on the tough task of wooing small groups into forming the first leftist government in Greece's modern history.

Greeks plunged their country into political limbo in Sunday's election, angry with the harsh cuts dictated by the bailout deal which is keeping Greece afloat but has also brought the worst unemployment and recession in decades.

By spurning the two main parties, voters shrugged off the risk of bankruptcy and the threat to Greece's future in the euro as officials warned that cash was running out fast.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/07/us-greece-idUSBRE8440DG20120507

[KamaAina]

1. The numbers don't add up

they'd have to bring in pro-austerity PASOK. Rightist New Democracy has by far the most seats, thanks to a 50-seat bonus for finishing first, yet they failed to form a goverment, because ALL the small parties told them to stuff it!

It looks like another round of elections. Stay tuned...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. I too see another round of elections

By then, things will be even tighter financially.

[Eugene]

3. Greek leftist holds coalition talks, effort seen as doomed

Source: Reuters

Greek leftist holds coalition talks, effort seen as doomed

By Ingrid Melander and Renee Maltezou

ATHENS | Tue May 8, 2012 9:00pm EDT

(Reuters) - Radical leftist Alexis Tsipras meets the leaders of Greece's mainstream parties on Wednesday to try to form a coalition government, an effort seen as doomed after he demanded they first agree to tear up the country's EU/IMF bailout deal.

An inconclusive election on Sunday has left Athens in political disarray, with no clear path to form a government, a new election likely within weeks and speculation escalating that Greece could be pushed out of Europe's single currency bloc.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/09/us-greece-idUSBRE8440DG20120509

[Odin2005]

4. I thought neither side has enough because nobody will touch the Neo-Nazis.