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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greece's Democratic Left party defects from coalition | Greece's Democratic Left party defects from coalition |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Greece's Democratic Left party says it is pulling out of the coalition government amid a row over the closure of national broadcaster ERT. | Greece's Democratic Left party says it is pulling out of the coalition government amid a row over the closure of national broadcaster ERT. |
| The party is the smallest in Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's coalition. It has yet to decide if it will still support the government in parliament. | The party is the smallest in Prime Minister Antonis Samaras's coalition. It has yet to decide if it will still support the government in parliament. |
| If it were to withdraw its backing, the two remaining coalition parties would have a majority of three seats. | If it were to withdraw its backing, the two remaining coalition parties would have a majority of three seats. |
| Earlier, talks broke down on how to resume transmissions at ERT. | Earlier, talks broke down on how to resume transmissions at ERT. |
| The withdrawal of the party will fuel fears of political instability hampering Greece's ability to manage its debt crisis, and leave a coalition that will be seen as far less representative, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. | The withdrawal of the party will fuel fears of political instability hampering Greece's ability to manage its debt crisis, and leave a coalition that will be seen as far less representative, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. |
| The Democratic Left is furious not to have been properly consulted over the decision to close ERT without notice last week to save money, our correspondent adds. | The Democratic Left is furious not to have been properly consulted over the decision to close ERT without notice last week to save money, our correspondent adds. |
| The party had two ministers in a cabinet that also included Mr Samaras's centre-right New Democracy, and the centre-left Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok). It has 14 deputies in the 300-seat parliament. | |
| Court ruling | Court ruling |
| Officials from all three parties have so far discounted snap elections, which would put at risk reforms required under the terms of a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. | Officials from all three parties have so far discounted snap elections, which would put at risk reforms required under the terms of a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. |
| "The country doesn't need elections," Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis said in a statement on Friday, after announcing the withdrawal of his ministers from the cabinet. | "The country doesn't need elections," Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis said in a statement on Friday, after announcing the withdrawal of his ministers from the cabinet. |
| "The Democratic Left insists on its reform policy and will continue to seek and demand solutions within the European reality." | "The Democratic Left insists on its reform policy and will continue to seek and demand solutions within the European reality." |
| Amid the political uncertainty on Friday, the interest rate on 10-year Greek government bonds rose to its highest level for several months, while the Athens stock exchange fell by more than 3%. | |
| Mr Samaras justified the closure of ERT by saying it was "a case of an exceptional lack of transparency and incredible extravagance". | Mr Samaras justified the closure of ERT by saying it was "a case of an exceptional lack of transparency and incredible extravagance". |
| The broadcaster's audience share in 2013 was relatively low, at below 20%, but its closure triggered protests across the country. | The broadcaster's audience share in 2013 was relatively low, at below 20%, but its closure triggered protests across the country. |
| On Monday, Greece's top administrative court ordered that ERT could resume transmissions. | On Monday, Greece's top administrative court ordered that ERT could resume transmissions. |
| However, there have been differing interpretations of the court's ruling and its TV and radio stations remain off air. | However, there have been differing interpretations of the court's ruling and its TV and radio stations remain off air. |