Greece sets June 17 as new parliament election date

PanARMENIAN.Net - Greece will hold new parliamentary polls on June 17 and a court official will head an interim government until then, state television said on Wednesday, May 16, RIA Novosti reported.

Council of State head Panagiotis Pikramenos will be appointed interim prime minister, state television said.

Communist Party leader Aleka Papariga told journalists party leaders had agreed that the interim government would not be able to commit the crisis-struck country to any international agreements. She was speaking after a meeting of party leaders called by President Karolos Papoulias.

The decision on the new polls comes after no party was left with a majority in parliament following May 6 elections as voters turned their backs on established parties over the country’s financial crisis. Nine-days of power-sharing talks were unsuccessful.

Greece is expected to introduce more unpopular austerity measures next month to meet targets agreed on its bailout deal with other Eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund.