The prospect of snap elections early in the New Year has shaken the people as well as the country’s financial markets. Most polls point at SYRIZA’s Alexis Tsipras, appears to be ahead in preference, even though citizens doubt his trustworthiness.
Greece’s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras failed again today to convince the members of the parliament to vote for former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas as head of state. New Democracy’s candidate, did not manage to gather the 180 votes needed for the third time. As in the second ballot that took place on 23 December, he only got 168 votes (132 present). The legislature will be dissolved whereas a date for state elections shall be set within the next 10 days. The parliamentary elections are more likely to be set on Sunday 4, or Sunday 25 January, either on Sunday 1 February. Samaras PM will chair a meeting of the cabinet later today. He is to issue a statement commenting on the Greek lawmakers’ failed attempt to elect a President and how this “non-action act” is likely to derail Greece’s economy, engendering the international bailout program.
SYRIZA, wants to de-construct Greece’s bailout agreement with the EU and International Monetary Fund, demanding that a big part of its debt should be erased. The radical leftist party now promises to keep Greece in the euro, but has committed to fight the austerity measures imposed on the Greek people.