This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8234843.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Greece's PM calls snap election | Greece's PM calls snap election |
(30 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. | 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. | "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. |
There has been social unrest since police shot a teenager last December | |
Mr Karamanlis will meet President Karolos Papoulias on Thursday after which the date of the election is expected to be announced. | Mr Karamanlis will meet President Karolos Papoulias on Thursday after which the date of the election is expected to be announced. |
The conservative New Democracy party 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. |
The government has been hit by a series of corruption scandals. | |
Aristotle Pavlides, a former minister, was alleged to have solicited bribes in return for granting shipping contracts, although he denied any wrongdoing. | |
Last October two ministers resigned after it emerged that state land was given to a monastery on Mount Athos, in return for much less valuable land. | |
Previously, a labour minister quit after employing uninsured immigrants, and his predecessor was forced out amid a bond-trading scandal. | |
Greece has also been dogged by social unrest since police shot a teenager dead last December. | |
The death sparked the country's worst riots in decades, leading to clashes between police and protesters in the weeks that followed. | |
Shortly before Mr Karamanlis announced the election on Wednesday, a bomb went off outside the Athens stock exchange, slightly injuring a female passer-by and damaging the building. | |
The BBC's Malcolm Brabant in Athens says the blasts may be the work of the extremist group, Revolutionary Struggle. |