This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30389856
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Greece to hold key presidential vote two months early | Greece to hold key presidential vote two months early |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Greece has announced it will bring forward by two months the date of a key presidential vote, in an apparent attempt to end political uncertainty. | Greece has announced it will bring forward by two months the date of a key presidential vote, in an apparent attempt to end political uncertainty. |
| The announcement came after eurozone ministers approved a Greek request for a two-month extension to its bailout programme due to end later this month. | The announcement came after eurozone ministers approved a Greek request for a two-month extension to its bailout programme due to end later this month. |
| The first round of the presidential vote - made by parliament - will now be held on 17 December. | The first round of the presidential vote - made by parliament - will now be held on 17 December. |
| It will be a vital test for embattled Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. | It will be a vital test for embattled Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. |
| President Karolos Papoulias's five-year term ends in March, and if parliament fails to elect a replacement then snap elections will follow. | |
| Mr Samaras's conservative-led coalition needs the support of other parties if its candidate is to obtain the backing of parliament. | |
| But the left-wing anti-bailout Syriza party is leading in the opinion polls and the government faces widespread public discontent after a six-year recession that ended last month. | |
| Risky vote | Risky vote |
| Correspondents say that Mr Samaras wants to use the vote to prove his support in parliament in relation to his bailout policy. He hopes to bring the unpopular programme to an end by early next year. | |
| The vote for a new president, whose role is largely ceremonial, had been expected in February. | |
| Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras accused the government of rushing it through in a "desperate attempt" to hide new austerity measures. He has pledged to end austerity cuts and any co-operation with either EU or IMF lenders. | |
| Mr Samaras's conservative-leftist coalition is expected to announce its candidate in the coming days. | |
| His government narrowly pushed through its 2015 budget in the early hours of Monday, securing 155 votes in the 300-seat parliament. | |
| But if it is to convince MPs to back its presidential candidate it will need far greater support from the chamber. | |
| Two hundred MPs are needed to back a candidate in the first or second vote, and 180 for the third vote. The second and third rounds of the vote are scheduled for 22 and 27 December. | |
| Mr Samaras will need the backing of 25 opposition lawmakers to reach 180 votes. | |
| The move to extend the bailout and advance the date of the presidential vote came a day after violent protests in Athens, with more than 300 demonstrators arrested. | The move to extend the bailout and advance the date of the presidential vote came a day after violent protests in Athens, with more than 300 demonstrators arrested. |
| The demonstration was held to mark six years since police shot dead an unarmed teenager during protests fuelled by anger over the country's economic crisis. | The demonstration was held to mark six years since police shot dead an unarmed teenager during protests fuelled by anger over the country's economic crisis. |
| Greece has so far received almost 240bn euros ($295bn; £190bn) in rescue funds since 2010 - they are due to be replaced next year by a new eurozone credit line that can be accessed in an emergency. | Greece has so far received almost 240bn euros ($295bn; £190bn) in rescue funds since 2010 - they are due to be replaced next year by a new eurozone credit line that can be accessed in an emergency. |
| "The coming period is essential to find an agreement [with the eurozone] to settle issues like the debt, and Greece has to have the full capacity to mobilise its forces in a climate of national unity and political stability," the government said in its statement. | "The coming period is essential to find an agreement [with the eurozone] to settle issues like the debt, and Greece has to have the full capacity to mobilise its forces in a climate of national unity and political stability," the government said in its statement. |
| Greece emerged from a damaging six-year recession earlier this year but some investors are worried about a return to the days of financial crisis as the presidential vote looms. | Greece emerged from a damaging six-year recession earlier this year but some investors are worried about a return to the days of financial crisis as the presidential vote looms. |