Attempt to form Greece government fails after shock poll

Reuters
May 7, 2012

A first attempt to form a new Greek government collapsed in less than a day on Monday after a shock election which left gaping questions over the country's ability to avert bankruptcy and stay in the euro.

Greeks enraged by the terms of international bailouts which have cut wages, sent unemployment to one of the highest levels in Europe and caused a spate of suicides, deserted mainstream parties in droves in Sunday's poll, plunging their country into uncertainty.

Antonis Samaras, leader of the conservative New Democracy party which won the biggest share of the vote gave up trying to form a government on Monday night within hours of getting a mandate from President Karolos Papoulias.

His efforts were rebuffed by a string of anti-bailout parties who had benefited from the electoral earthquake which sent tremors across the euro zone.

"It was impossible," Samaras told reporters. "I handed back the mandate." The task will now pass to Left Coalition leader Alexis Tsipras, who was catapulted into second place in Sunday's vote on the back of voter anger over the economic hardship.

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