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Greece opposition chief demands PM quits over debt crisis | Greece opposition chief demands PM quits over debt crisis |
(1 day later) | |
Greece's main opposition leader has repeated calls for PM George Papandreou to resign to break the political deadlock over the debt crisis. | Greece's main opposition leader has repeated calls for PM George Papandreou to resign to break the political deadlock over the debt crisis. |
Mr Papandreou is seeking to build a government of national unity, but Antonis Samaras of the New Democracy party says the PM must resign first. | Mr Papandreou is seeking to build a government of national unity, but Antonis Samaras of the New Democracy party says the PM must resign first. |
Some reports say a coalition deal and Mr Papandreou's resignation could be announced as early as Sunday evening. | Some reports say a coalition deal and Mr Papandreou's resignation could be announced as early as Sunday evening. |
An emergency cabinet meeting is under way. | An emergency cabinet meeting is under way. |
Mr Samaras did not state explicitly whether he would join a government of national unity, but said that if the PM resigned, "everything will take its course". | Mr Samaras did not state explicitly whether he would join a government of national unity, but said that if the PM resigned, "everything will take its course". |
'Close to consensus' | 'Close to consensus' |
A government official has indicated that a deal is drawing closer. | A government official has indicated that a deal is drawing closer. |
"I believe that we are very close to reaching a consensus," said deputy government spokesman Angelos Tolkas, quoted by Reuters news agency. | "I believe that we are very close to reaching a consensus," said deputy government spokesman Angelos Tolkas, quoted by Reuters news agency. |
There has been speculation that a new governing coalition could be led by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos. | There has been speculation that a new governing coalition could be led by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos. |
Mr Papandreou has invited Mr Samaras to joint talks with the president later on Sunday, state television said. There has been no confirmation Mr Samaras will agree to attend. | Mr Papandreou has invited Mr Samaras to joint talks with the president later on Sunday, state television said. There has been no confirmation Mr Samaras will agree to attend. |
Emerging from a short meeting with President Karolos Papoulias, Mr Samaras said: "As long as Papandreou has not decided what he wants to do, it is blocking any solution." | Emerging from a short meeting with President Karolos Papoulias, Mr Samaras said: "As long as Papandreou has not decided what he wants to do, it is blocking any solution." |
He has previously labelled Mr Papandreou as "dangerous" for Greece". | He has previously labelled Mr Papandreou as "dangerous" for Greece". |
Mr Samaras has backed the idea of a caretaker government to secure parliamentary approval of a new eurozone bailout package, but has insisted that early elections are called. | Mr Samaras has backed the idea of a caretaker government to secure parliamentary approval of a new eurozone bailout package, but has insisted that early elections are called. |
Mr Papandreou says early elections would "have catastrophic consequences for the economy and for the Greek people". | Mr Papandreou says early elections would "have catastrophic consequences for the economy and for the Greek people". |
Two opinion polls published on Saturday suggested that Greeks would prefer the option of a national unity government to snap elections, Reuters news agency reported. | Two opinion polls published on Saturday suggested that Greeks would prefer the option of a national unity government to snap elections, Reuters news agency reported. |
'High stakes' | 'High stakes' |
President Papoulias has been urging the opposing sides to overcome their differences and work together to resolve a crisis that has jeopardised the entire euro project. | President Papoulias has been urging the opposing sides to overcome their differences and work together to resolve a crisis that has jeopardised the entire euro project. |
"Consensus is the one and only way," Mr Papoulias told the prime minister on Saturday, a few hours after Mr Papandreou had narrowly won a vote of confidence in parliament. | "Consensus is the one and only way," Mr Papoulias told the prime minister on Saturday, a few hours after Mr Papandreou had narrowly won a vote of confidence in parliament. |
What went wrong in Greece? | What went wrong in Greece?BACK {current} of {total} NEXT |
The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says this has now become a high stakes game of political brinkmanship, and nobody can tell who will blink first. | The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says this has now become a high stakes game of political brinkmanship, and nobody can tell who will blink first. |
But politicians must find a solution in order to ratify the next 8bn euro ($11bn) instalment of the eurozone bail-out package by mid-December, enabling them to pay public sector salaries and pensions and avoid bankruptcy. | But politicians must find a solution in order to ratify the next 8bn euro ($11bn) instalment of the eurozone bail-out package by mid-December, enabling them to pay public sector salaries and pensions and avoid bankruptcy. |
Greece's mounting debt crisis and the implementation of austerity measures have proved hugely unpopular with the public, prompting widespread protests and strikes. | Greece's mounting debt crisis and the implementation of austerity measures have proved hugely unpopular with the public, prompting widespread protests and strikes. |
But if Greece defaults on its debts, the cost of borrowing would rocket for other countries, potentially leading to a new banking crisis. | But if Greece defaults on its debts, the cost of borrowing would rocket for other countries, potentially leading to a new banking crisis. |
On Monday, Mr Papandreou shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil by calling for a national referendum on the deal which they thought had been secured. | On Monday, Mr Papandreou shocked EU partners and sent markets into turmoil by calling for a national referendum on the deal which they thought had been secured. |
The vote was called off just days later, but only after triggering the wider financial and political crisis. | The vote was called off just days later, but only after triggering the wider financial and political crisis. |