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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greece's PM calls snap election | Greece's PM calls snap election |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Greece's PM Costas Karamanlis has called a snap general election, although no date has yet been set. | Greece's PM Costas Karamanlis has called a snap general election, although no date has yet been set. |
| "I am seeking a fresh political mandate," Mr Karamanlis said on TV. | "I am seeking a fresh political mandate," Mr Karamanlis said on TV. |
| There had been speculation that the conservative prime minister would go to the polls early given the wafer-thin majority he has in parliament. | There had been speculation that the conservative prime minister would go to the polls early given the wafer-thin majority he has in parliament. |
| The government has been hit by a number of financial scandals and recent destructive wildfires have also hit its popularity. | The government has been hit by a number of financial scandals and recent destructive wildfires have also hit its popularity. |
| Resignation | Resignation |
| Mr Karamanlis said in his address: "We have to clarify the political landscape and proceed with a series of essential measures to emerge from the downturn. | |
| "The year 2010 will be a difficult and decisive one, and so the Greek people must choose a government that can lead the country out of this crisis," he said. | |
| Mr Karamanlis will meet President Karolos Papoulias on Thursday after which the date of the election is expected to be announced. | |
| The conservatives trailed the Socialists by six points in two recent opinion polls and the snap election had been opposed by some conservative MPs. | The conservatives trailed the Socialists by six points in two recent opinion polls and the snap election had been opposed by some conservative MPs. |
| The conservatives have 151 seats in the 300-member parliament. | The conservatives have 151 seats in the 300-member parliament. |
| A senior member of the party, Yiannis Manolis, resigned his seat on Monday, saying he was disappointed with the government's performance. | A senior member of the party, Yiannis Manolis, resigned his seat on Monday, saying he was disappointed with the government's performance. |
| His seat would have been taken by another conservative without the need for a new election. | His seat would have been taken by another conservative without the need for a new election. |