| Author (Person) | Hope, Kerin |
|---|---|
| Series Title | Financial Times |
| Series Details | 7.5.12 |
| Publication Date | 07/05/2012 |
| Content Type | News |
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Reports of the General election, 6 May 2012 in Greece. Greece faced political turmoil after the inconclusive general election in which both mainstream pro-Europe parties (New Democracy and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok))saw a dramatic collapse in support and anti-austerity groups of the right and left increased their share of the vote. The IMF had warned that it would be unwilling to release its first quarterly aid payment, due in the summer 2012, if Greece did not implement reforms pledged when the (second) bailout was agreed in February 2012. The result also raised questions about voters’ willingness to continue supporting tough EU-IMF austerity programmes in Greece and also elsewhere in the eurozone. Greek newspaper Kathimerini wrote that 'Greece was plunged into political uncertainty on (the 6 May 2012) as national elections produced a fragmented Parliament of at least seven parties and a result that could preclude New Democracy and PASOK forming a coalition government over the next few days'. Later on the 7 May 2012 New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras reported that he had failed to form a coalition government and had handed back the mandate to the country’s president. The Left Coalition (SYRIZA), which took second place in the election would now be given the opportunity to try and form an administration. Greece began bracing itself for a repeat general election. |
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| Countries / Regions | Greece |
