Greece's main opposition leader Tsipras refuses to form government
Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the Radical Left Coalition-Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA), who finished second in the elections held in Greece on Sunday, did not accept the government formation task given to him by Greek President Katerina Sakelaropoulou.
Following the general elections held in Greece on Sunday, May 21, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the leader of the New Democracy (ND) Party, returned the task of forming a government to Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the main opposition SYRIZA party.
Tsipras did not accept the task given to him by President Katerina Sakelaropoulou.
'IT WAS AN UNEXPECTED RESULT'
Speaking to reporters after the meeting at the Presidential Palace in the capital Athens, Tsipras apologized to Syriza supporters and said, "There is no reason to hide that the election result was a painful blow for us, it was unexpected."
"I take full responsibility for this result," Tsipras said. Tsipras said he had no plans to resign and emphasized that he would continue to fight.
HE POINTED TO NEW ELECTIONS
Pointing out that elections will be held again and targeting the Mitsotakis government, Tsipras said, "Imagine that if these results are repeated, there will be an omnipotent, irresponsible prime minister. In its first 4 years in power, this government has shown that it does not respect the rule of law, democracy or political pluralism. So the overall picture is the need to prevent having a dark, irresponsible, hegemonic and arrogant government."
The task of forming a government, which Tsipras refused, will be given to Nikos Androulakis, leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), which finished third in the election.
MITSOTAKIS HAD TURNED DOWN THE TASK
Prime Minister Mitsotakis, the leader of the New Democracy Party, to whom President Sakelaropoulou gave the task of forming a government yesterday after the elections, returned the task in the evening.
The New Democracy Party won 40.79 percent of the votes and 146 seats in the 300-seat parliament. SYRIZA won 71 seats with 20.7 percent of the vote and PASOK won 41 seats with 11.46 percent of the vote.
ABSOLUTE MAJORITY SYSTEM WILL BE APPLIED
While no party in the country has reached the 151 seats required to form a government on its own, if no consensus is reached for a coalition, the polls will be held for the second time. This time, the absolute majority system will be applied and the party that receives 38 percent of the votes will be able to form a government alone.
Source: Ihas News Agency
