ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 24 (UPI) — Greece is likely headed to its third national vote this year, anticipated for sept. 20, as parties try to organize a coalition government.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned last week after his Syriza party, elected in January on a platform of rejecting austerity measures and tax increases provoked by accepting the country’s third bailout in five years, fragmented after Greece accepted those very measures in exchange for an 86 billion Euro ($98.6 billion) loan.
Tsipras’ resignation was prompted by an attempt to consolidate power and turn Syriza into a more cohesive and supportive party.
Dozens of Syriza legislators split from the party, led by energy minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, to form the left-wing Popular Unity party after the bailout, and the austerity measures were approved. Greece’s constitution allows parties to take up to three days each to form a majority coalition government – Monday begins the Popular Unity party’s attempt – and since it is unlikely anyone can accomplish the feat, President Prokopis Pavlopolous is expected to appoint a caretaker government until elections can be held. Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili referred to Sep. 20 Sunday as “a feasible election date.”
Greeks went to the polls to vote for a new government seven months ago, and again in July, when they turned down proposed reforms demanded by creditors.
Current opinion surveys suggest Syriza will remain the dominant party but will not have enough parliamentary votes to be a majority party, prompting another coalition government. The most likely Syriza ally is the right-wing Independent Greeks party, which shares Syriza’s skepticism of the bailout. Other parties which could help form a coalition include the pro-business New Democracy, the free market To Potami, the far-right Golden Dawn, the socialist Pasok and the intensely anti-bailout Communist Party of Greece.
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