Greece’s president proposes forming government of technocrats

Greek Socialist Party leader Evangelos Venizelos (far L), leader of the New Democracy conservatives, Antonis Samaras (L), leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left party Alexis Tsipras (R) meet with Greek President Carolos Papoulias (C), May 13, 2012

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/05/15/241257/greek-pres-proposes-technocrat-govt/

Greek President Karolos Papoulias has proposed the formation of a technocrat government in a bid to resolve the political deadlock that has gripped the debt-stricken country.

The leader of the socialist PASOK, Evangelos Venizelos, made the announcement on Monday, saying President Papoulias would convene a meeting on Tuesday with the heads of all parties represented in the parliament except for the far-right Golden Dawn Party, to discuss the proposal.

The new initiative will attempt to resolve the current political crisis which has seen three successive appointed prime ministers fail to form a workable coalition in parliament.

The talks will seek to create a government of "distinguished and non-political figures," he said.

Venizelos was speaking after a meeting with the president along with the leaders of the conservative New Democracy SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left). The talks ended without any specific resolution.

Panos Skourletis of SYRIZA said it would attend the talks, as did Fotis Kouvelis, leader of the smaller and more moderate Democratic Left.

Greece will be forced to hold new elections next month if it does not succeed in resolving the political impasse by Thursday. Polls suggest new elections could usher in a government that turns its back on Greece's bailout.

Greeks are angry at two years of harsh austerity measures imposed in return for bailouts from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.