The European Commission, one of the creditor institutions overseeing the new rescue package, earlier welcomed reports of a snap election in Greece, saying it would politically bolster the just launched bailout, the country’s third in five years.
Advertisement
In protest against Syriza’s acceptance of the new austerity-heavy bailout 25 MPs have announced that they will break away to join a new Popular Unity party.
Constantopoulou, whose father was a former head of Syriza’s precursor party Synaspismos-and was a Greek presidential candidate a decade ago-vehemently opposed the third EU bailout Tsipras signed on July 13 and repeatedly sought to frustrate its ratification through stalling tactics.
Greece plunged into political and economic uncertainty yet again after the resignation of the Leftist government on Thursday evening. There were also expected to be delays as other parties were asked constitutionally if they could form a government.
However, according to Zoi Konstantopoulou, the speaker of the Hellenic Parliament, the president did not notify her about his decision to grant the mandate to Meimarakis, casting doubt on the step’s legitimacy.
“Now that this hard cycle has come to an end, I wish to submit to your judgment all that we have done”, Tsipras said.
Yannis Palaiologos, a reporter with the Kathimerini newspaper in Athens, says he wasn’t surprised by Tsipras’s resignation.
“Of course the German government expects, like all other European partners of Greece, the implementation of the reforms listed in the program, ” he added.
“The announcement means a renewed reform standstill in Greece that will last several weeks“, said Hans Michelbach, a lawmaker with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party and known bailout critic. Forty-four members of the governing coalition voted against the measures, all of whom sided with the left wing of his SYRIZA party. In calling for the vote after Greece received some 13 billion euros (about $14 billion) of new funds from the bailout package, Tsipras is hoping that voters will endorse his approach – and effectively ratify the bailout.
Greek MPs from the Left Platform faction within the coalition of radical left-wing forces – Syriza have chose to form a new independent parliamentary group.
Opting for a fresh election was seen as an attempt by Tsipras to face down the internal challenge by Syriza rebels and strengthen his position.
Advertisement
Lafazanis, who was removed from his post during a cabinet reshuffle last month, is an implacable foe of the bailout agreement and has accused Tsipras of betraying the anti-austerity values that brought him to power.
