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| Greece parliament holds crucial presidency vote | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Greece's parliament is holding a third and final vote on whether to approve a president nominated by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, in a move that could trigger a snap election. | |
| The candidate, Stavros Dimas, has so far failed to get the constitutionally required majority. | The candidate, Stavros Dimas, has so far failed to get the constitutionally required majority. |
| Failure to elect him would force a fresh general election. | Failure to elect him would force a fresh general election. |
| Opinion polls give a lead to the left-wing Syriza party, which has pledged to renegotiate the country's bailout deal. | |
| This would put Greece on a collision course with its EU and IMF creditors, who have loaned the country billions of euros in exchange for deep cuts in government spending. | |
| Syriza has vowed to keep Greece within the eurozone but wants to roll back some of the reforms imposed as part of the bailout deal. | Syriza has vowed to keep Greece within the eurozone but wants to roll back some of the reforms imposed as part of the bailout deal. |
| "Syriza's victory in elections will jumpstart a massive national effort to save society and restore Greece," Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras said in an article in Avgi newspaper. | "Syriza's victory in elections will jumpstart a massive national effort to save society and restore Greece," Syriza's leader Alexis Tsipras said in an article in Avgi newspaper. |
| Samaras warning | Samaras warning |
| In the second round of voting last week, Mr Dimas obtained 168 votes, 32 short of the 200 he required. | In the second round of voting last week, Mr Dimas obtained 168 votes, 32 short of the 200 he required. |
| Greece's two-party governing coalition has 155 seats and needs support from opposition or independent lawmakers to ensure a win for former EU Environment Commissioner Mr Dimas. | Greece's two-party governing coalition has 155 seats and needs support from opposition or independent lawmakers to ensure a win for former EU Environment Commissioner Mr Dimas. |
| In the final round, he needs the support of only 180 MPs to be appointed president - a largely ceremonial role. | In the final round, he needs the support of only 180 MPs to be appointed president - a largely ceremonial role. |
| But few believe he has it, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Athens. | But few believe he has it, says the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Athens. |
| If he does not get the votes required, parliament will be dissolved within 10 days and general elections will be called within a month, either in late January or early February. | |
| "The Greek people don't want early elections. The Greek people understand where this adventure could lead," Prime Minister Samaras told Greek television. | "The Greek people don't want early elections. The Greek people understand where this adventure could lead," Prime Minister Samaras told Greek television. |
| Although polls suggest Syriza would win early elections, it is not clear they would win a majority. | Although polls suggest Syriza would win early elections, it is not clear they would win a majority. |
| The Greek economy has begun to show signs of recovery after years of contraction. | The Greek economy has begun to show signs of recovery after years of contraction. |
| But unemployment remains over 25%, and many people have had wages and benefits cut. | But unemployment remains over 25%, and many people have had wages and benefits cut. |