|
|
|
Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-05-08
CONTENTS
[01] Tsipras receives second mandate
[01] Tsipras receives second mandate
AMNA--Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) leader Alexis Tsipras arrived at
the presidential mansion in Athens on Tuesday, at roughly 1 p.m. local
time, to receive a mandate to form a government from Greek President
Karolos Papoulias.
"The country is in need of a government," Papoulias said in greeting
Tsipras.amna
"... this is a historic moment for the Left and a personal responsibility
for me, if one considers that the previous mandate (received by a leftist
party) was given to (late Communist Party leader) Harilaos Florakis. I
would have had more chances of forming a government if we had a different
election system or if I had received more votes. The people have decided,
we must respect their verdict," Tsipras said.amna
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras returned a mandate to form a
government on Monday, unable to cobble together a coalition.
ND picked up a disappointing 18.85 percent of the vote in Sunday's
election, while SYRIZA came in a surprising second with 16.78 percent.
|
