Post date: Nov 09, 2011 8:26:17 PM
A deal on forming a Greek national unity government collapses as the country heads towards an economic abyss.
ATHENS, GREECE (NOVEMBER 9, 2011) REUTERS - A meeting of Greek political leaders with the country's president on Wednesday (November 9) was postponed until the following day, the presidency said, in a sign consensus on a new prime minister has not yet been reached.
The meeting was called off shortly after outgoing Prime Minister George Papandreou and opposition leader Antonis Samaras began talks with President Karolos Papoulias on a new coalition to save Greece from bankruptcy. The meeting is now expected at 0800 GMT on Thursday.
Papandreou earlier said he was stepping down to make way for the new government that had been agreed by both sides.
Before the meeting Papandreou told the nation in a televised address that he wished his successor well and a new coalition government had been formed.
He then headed off to meet the president -- only for it to emerge that there was no successor due to feuding in the political parties.
The leader of the small right party LAOS, George Karatzaferis, stormed out just minutes after arriving for the meeting, apparently over a disagreement about the choice of the new prime minister.
"At these crucial moments, tactical games are being played by Mr. Papandreou and Mr. Samaras, and influenced the president of the Republic. I am truly saddened," he told reporters outside.
"I was waiting there by myself, obviously so that they could come to announce to me what decision they had already come to. It's unacceptable. What difference does it make afterwards since they already had a meeting, just the three of them. Is this correct? It was (supposed to be) a meeting of (all) the political leaders," he said.
"I believe however that something is going on in there. I won't participate in such things," he added.
Opposition leader Antonis Samaras said after the meeting he was not blocking the talks from being resolved.
"The government has the initiative for the proposal of a new prime minister. My problem is not the individuals, my problem is to unblock the sixth tranche and the bailout agreement, for the country to acquire a new government, particularly during this very crucial time," he said.
Earlier, party sources said senior members of the socialist and conservative camps had settled on the speaker of parliament, veteran socialist Filippos Petsalnikos, barring last-minute snags.
Snags did indeed emerge, with large sections of Papandreou's PASOK party and the conservative New Democracy refusing to back Petsalnikos after a three-day hunt for someone to lead the coalition until early elections in February.
Greeks and the nation's international lenders have watched in growing horror for three days as party leaders feuded over a shrinking list of credible candidates to lead the national unity coalition after Papandreou's government imploded.
Greece will run out of money next month unless the new government comes agrees emergency funding with the European Union and International Monetary Fund, Greece's last remaining lenders, including a 130 billion euro bailout.