Greek parliament fails to elect new president in second round

PanARMENIAN.Net - Greek lawmakers failed to elect the country's new president in a second round of voting Tuesday, Dec 23, leaving the government with a final attempt next week to break an impasse that could force early elections, the Associated Press reports.

The conservative-led government's candidate, Stavros Dimas, received 168 votes in the ballot, far short of the 200 needed for his election.

In the final round on Dec. 29, a reduced total of 180 in the 300-seat parliament is required. Otherwise, parliament is dissolved and a general election called in a month.

The government needs opposition support to get Dimas elected, and has offered to set a timetable for early elections by the end of 2015.

The left-wing Syriza party, leading in opinion polls, is demanding immediate elections, arguing that the country must renegotiate its bailout program.