Greek president calls for technocrat government

Page last updated at 19:00 GMT, Tuesday, May 15, 2012 - 00:00 EST

The West Australian:

Greek presidential guards march in front of the Maximou presidential mansion in Athens. Greece's president called Monday...

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Greece's president called Monday for talks on a technocrat government, seeking to resolve the crisis over a tough EU-IMF debt bailout which risks forcing the country into new elections and out of the eurozone.

Socialist Pasok party chief Evangelos Venizelos said after meeting President Carolos Papoulias along with leaders of the conservative New Democracy and radical Democratic Left that the talks would take place at 1100 GMT on Tuesday.

The meeting would seek to form a government of "distinguished and non-political figures," said Venizelos, who with New Democracy in a technocrat coalition last year implemented the bailout whose austerity measures Greek voters largely rejected in May 6 polls.

Antonis Samaras of New Democracy said: "Everyone must take their responsibilities ... our efforts continue tomorrow.

"Our mandate all together is to build a government," Samaras said.

Democratic Left head Fotis Kouvelis, who had earlier Monday said there was no chance of a deal if the radical left Syriza party was not included, indicated he would go to Tuesday's meeting.

Syriza head Alexis Tsipras said he would also attend while NET TV reported that the Greek Independent party had agreed to take part, meaning only the hardline Communists (KKE) and far-right Golden Dawn would be absent.

Read the whole story: The West Australian