Galery

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Two seats separate the coalition of the radical left SYRIZA from the absolute majority in the new Greek parliament. It will have 149 members and will have to seek coalition partners to form a government. SYRIZA has won the trust of more than 36% of Greek voters and it is the most influential political force in the country with a lead of 8.5% over the outgoing government of New Democracy. The second largest group in Greek society is that of abstainers - 36% of those who are eligible to vote did not do so yesterday.
     The remaining seats in the Greek parliament are distributed as follows: New Democracy will have 76 MPs, Golden Dawn, which was supported by 388,000 Greeks, will have 17 MPs, and the newly formed party Potami of journalist Stavros Theodorakis will have the same number of seats. The Communist Party of Greece will have 15 MPs, Independent Greeks and PASOK 13 MPs each.
     8.63% of Greeks voted for parties that have remained outside parliament.
     Therefore it is certain that the new Greek government will be a coalition. At 10.30 am, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras will meet with leader of Independent Greeks Panos Kamenos, for the first time as potential coalition partners. According to sources, Tsipras will propose to Kamenos to take the post of Minister of Defence in the new cabinet and the expectations are that this proposal will be adopted.
     After Kamenos, Tsipras will meet with Stavros Theodorakis from Potami party.
     So far, it is unclear whether the party will support the new government in parliament. The headquarters of Potami do not exclude this possibility but say that everything will depend on the conversation between Tsipras and Theodorakis.
     SYRIZA's leader is expected to request a meeting with leader of the Communist Party of Greece Dimitris Koutsoumbas. Although he has no reason to refuse, the probability of the Communists supporting with their votes a government of SYRIZA and Independent Greeks ranges from minimal to nonexistent.
     Even if the talks with the other parties do not work the coalition SYRIZA - Independent Greeks will have the support of 162 MPs.
     According to radical left sources Alexis Tsipras will take an oath today and the new office on Tuesday afternoon or on Wednesday morning at the latest.