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Greece's conservative leader Antonis Samaras, whose New Democracy party came first in a crucial election Sunday, is set to meet the main opposition leader, radical left Syriza's Alexis Tsipras, to start the formal process of coalition-building talks.
Samaras saw the Greek president of the republic earlier Monday and received the formal mandate to start coalition-building talks, as his party is 21 seats shy of an absolute majority in the 300-seat parliament.
The talks with Mr. Tsipras are purely a formality, as the radical left leader made it plain Sunday night that he wouldn't join a coalition with New Democracy.
"Don't expect any surprises, this is a formal procedure. Mr. Samaras has to see the leader of the second party first, that's the protocol," Syriza's spokesman said.
After winning a narrow victory in Sunday's elections, Mr. Samaras was mandated by President Karolos Papoulias to form a government.
New Democracy was backed by 29.7% of voters, giving it 129 seats in the 300-seat Parliament. That includes a 50-seat bonus the party received for getting the most votes. The radical left Syriza party is second with 26.9% of the vote, or 71 seats.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303836404577473940623245220.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Samaras saw the Greek president of the republic earlier Monday and received the formal mandate to start coalition-building talks, as his party is 21 seats shy of an absolute majority in the 300-seat parliament.
The talks with Mr. Tsipras are purely a formality, as the radical left leader made it plain Sunday night that he wouldn't join a coalition with New Democracy.
"Don't expect any surprises, this is a formal procedure. Mr. Samaras has to see the leader of the second party first, that's the protocol," Syriza's spokesman said.
After winning a narrow victory in Sunday's elections, Mr. Samaras was mandated by President Karolos Papoulias to form a government.
New Democracy was backed by 29.7% of voters, giving it 129 seats in the 300-seat Parliament. That includes a 50-seat bonus the party received for getting the most votes. The radical left Syriza party is second with 26.9% of the vote, or 71 seats.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303836404577473940623245220.html?mod=googlenews_wsj