Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
14th May 2012, 13:08
The moderate Democratic Left party in Greece says it will not join pro-bailout parties in a coalition without the more radical far left Syriza.
The Greek president has called the four main parties, including the centre-right New Democracy and the Socialist Pasok, to try to form an emergency government to avoid new elections.
But Syriza said it would not attend because it could not back any coalition which supported austerity.
A majority voted against last week.
"No unity government can emerge," Fotis Kouvelis, head of the Democratic Left party, told Greek television.
"A government without Syriza would not have the necessary popular and parliamentary backing," said Mr Kouvelis
EU finance ministers are due to meet in Brussels to discuss the Greek crisis later on Monday.
The fear over holding new elections is that parties that oppose austerity measures that are a condition of Greece's bailout deal might do well again in new polls, says the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Brussels.
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18055629)
The Greek president has called the four main parties, including the centre-right New Democracy and the Socialist Pasok, to try to form an emergency government to avoid new elections.
But Syriza said it would not attend because it could not back any coalition which supported austerity.
A majority voted against last week.
"No unity government can emerge," Fotis Kouvelis, head of the Democratic Left party, told Greek television.
"A government without Syriza would not have the necessary popular and parliamentary backing," said Mr Kouvelis
EU finance ministers are due to meet in Brussels to discuss the Greek crisis later on Monday.
The fear over holding new elections is that parties that oppose austerity measures that are a condition of Greece's bailout deal might do well again in new polls, says the BBC's Gavin Hewitt in Brussels.
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18055629)