- Title: GREECE-VOTE/RESULT Greece faces election after lawmakers fail to elect President
- Date: 29th December 2014
- Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (DECEMBER 29, 2014) (REUTERS) PARLIAMENT ENTRANCE DEMOCRATIC LEFT PARTY LEADER, FOTIS KOUVELIS, ARRIVING FOR VOTE IN HIS CAR / ENTERING PARLIAMENT SYRIZA LAWMAKER, PANAGIOTIS LAFAZANIS, ARRIVING AT PARLIAMENT AND ENTERING FOR VOTE FORMER SOCIALIST PRIME MINISTER AND PASOK LAWMAKER, GEORGE PAPANDREOU, ARRIVING FOR VOTE FORMER CONSERVATIVE PRIME MINISTER AND NEW DEMOCRACY LAWMAKER, KOSTAS KARAMANLIS, ARRIVING FOR VOTE
- Embargoed: 13th January 2015 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2ALP3275V882INFTCJKCZ5JD1
- Story Text: Greece's parliament failed on Monday (December 29), to elect a new President, forcing the country into a general election one year early, while the country has yet to iron out all its economic problems.
The only candidate in the race, former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas fell short of the 180 vote supermajority needed to become president.
He garnered 168 votes, the same score he achieved in the second round of the vote.
One hundred and thirty-two voted against.
Those in favour of presidential candidate Stavros Dimas said his name, those against stated: 'paron' or "present" in Greek.
"One hundred and sixty-eight lawmakers voted in favour of Stavros Dimas, and 132 voted "present"," Greek parliament speaker Vangelis Meimarakis said after the voting session.
Under Greek law, a general election must now be called, leaving financial markets and Greece's European Union partners facing weeks of uncertainty that could undermine fragile signs of economic recovery.
"Thus according to the result, it is verified that the majority that is required by the articles of the constitution has not been achieved," Meimarakis added.
The radical leftist Syriza party, which wants to renegotiate Greece's bailout agreement with the EU and International Monetary Fund and roll back austerity policies, has held a steady lead in opinion polls for months, although its advantage has narrowed in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras appealed to lawmakers at the weekend to back Dimas but refused to offer more concessions and said he was confident of winning any election, which will have to be held by early February.
The latest polls show the Syriza party leading Samaras' New Democracy party by about a three percent margin. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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