Papandreou's coalition offer snubbed by opposition leader

Guardian
November 5, 2011

Greece's prime minister has struggled to form a temporary coalition government after the leader of the main opposition party called for immediate elections.

George Papandreou has agreed to step aside if necessary to help his Socialist party hammer out a four-month coalition he says is vital to securing a new debt deal worth an additional €130bn ((£112bn). He said a coalition would also demonstrate the country's commitment to remaining in the eurozone.

But the political deadlock Papandreou had hoped to break looked set to continue after his offer was snubbed hours later by Antonis Samaras, the head of the New Democracy party.

"We have not asked for any place in his government. All we want is for Mr Papandreou to resign, because he has become dangerous for the country," Samaras said in a televised address. "We insisted on immediate elections."

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