Greece has announced
it will bring forward by two months the date of a key presidential vote, in an
apparent attempt to end political uncertainty.
The first round of the
presidential vote - made by parliament - will now be held on 17 December. It
will be a vital test for embattled Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. The second
and third rounds of the vote are scheduled for 22 and 27 December.
Risky vote
Correspondents say
that Mr Samaras wants to use the vote to prove his support in parliament in
relation to his bailout policy, He hopes to bring the unpopular programme to an
end by early next year.
His government has a
narrow majority in parliament and he will need support from 25 opposition
lawmakers to get the 180 votes needed in the 300-seat chamber to elect a new
president.
Although the Greek
president occupies a ceremonial role, Mr Samaras will be forced to call a snap
general election if he fails to win the vote. He has not yet named his
candidate to succeed Karolos Papoulias.
Mr Samaras's party is
trailing in opinion polls to the left-wing anti-bailout Syriza party and is
facing widespread public discontent after a six-year recession.
The move to extend the
bailout and advance the date of the presidential vote came a day after violent
protests in Athens, with more than 300 demonstrators arrested.
The demonstration was
held to mark six years since police shot dead an unarmed teenager during protests
fuelled by anger over the country's economic crisis.
Greece has so far
received almost 240bn euros ($295bn; £190bn) in rescue funds since 2010 - they
are due to be replaced next year by a new eurozone credit line that can be
accessed in an emergency.
"The coming
period is essential to find an agreement [with the eurozone] to settle issues
like the debt, and Greece has to have the full capacity to mobilise its forces
in a climate of national unity and political stability," the government
said in its statement.
Greece emerged from a
damaging six-year recession earlier this year but some investors are worried
about a return to the days of financial crisis as the presidential vote looms.
Officials and analysts
quoted by the Reuters news agency said that the move to bring forward the vote
shows that the coalition government, with 155 lawmakers in parliament, believes
it can secure the level of support it needs.
The Syriza party has
welcomed the move to hold the presidential vote next week, arguing that it will
lead to much needed early elections, Syriza has pledged to end austerity cuts
and any co-operation with either EU or IMF lenders.
(Πηγή: bbc.com)
