Critical last-ditch talks to form a coalition government incrisis-stricken Greece foundered once more Sunday, leading thecountry one step closer to new elections, although the socialistparty leader said he retained "existing but limited' optimism for adeal. The political uncertainty has alarmed the international creditorswho have given Greece billions of euros in bailout loans over thepast two years, and has thrown the country's continued presence inthe European Union's joint currency into serious doubt. President Karolos Papoulias convened the heads of the parties thatcame in the top three spots in last Sunday's inconclusive elections , in an ultimate effort to broker an agreement after a week oftalks led to deadlock. The meeting ended without a solution. Papoulias also met laterSunday evening individually with the leaders of smaller partiesthat made it into parliament. Those included the extremistright-wing Golden Dawn, whose head, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, causeda furor by giving a fascist salute during an Athens city councilmeeting last year. The party won 7 per cent of the vote in theelections. Voters furious at the handling of Greece's financial crisis and twoyears of harsh austerity measures taken in return for billions ofeuros in international bailout loans punished the formerly dominantsocialist PASOK and conservative New Democracy parties in theelections. The two saw their support crumble to the lowest point indecades, while Radical Left Coalition, or Syriza, made big gains tocome in second place after campaigning on an anti-bailout platform. The PASOK and New Democracy leaders could form a coalition with thesmaller Democratic Left party of Fotis Kouvelis combined theywould have 168 seats in the 300-member parliament. New Democracywon 18.9 per cent last Sunday while PASOK garnered just 13.2 percent, compared to nearly 44 per cent in the last elections in 2009.Kouvelis' 6.1 per cent put him in a kingmaker position, with 19seats. But all three insist any power-sharing deal must include Syriza,led by the 38-year-old Alexis Tsipras, given its strong showing atthe ballot box. Tsipras, however, insists he cannot join or even lend his supportto a government that will continue implementing the terms ofGreece's international bailout. Spending cuts at issue In return for euro240 billion in rescue loans from the EuropeanUnion and International Monetary Fund, Greece has imposed severespending cuts, including slashing pensions and salaries in thepublic sector, and repeated rounds of tax hikes. The measures haveleft Greece mired in a fifth year of deep recession, withunemployment spiraling above 21 per cent. "The three parties that have agreed on a two-year government inorder to apply (the bailout) have 168 seats in parliament," Tsiprassaid after the meeting. "Let them go ahead. Their demand thatSyriza participate come what may in their own agreement issenseless and unprecedented." Tsipras insists the terms of the bailout must be cancelled. PASOKhead Evangelos Venizelos, who spent nine months handling the crisisas finance minister, and conservative leader Antonis Samaras, saythat position is irresponsible and will force Greece out of theeuro. Although Sunday's meeting convened by the president with thethree top party leaders was inconclusive, Venizelos said that "Iretain some limited but existing optimism that a government can beformed." Samaras appeared more pessimistic. "I made every effort for the co-operation of all," he said. "Syrizadidn't listen to the mandate of the Greek people and does notaccept not only the formation of a viable government, but not eventhe tolerance of a government which would in fact undertake torenegotiate the terms of the (bailout) and the loan agreement." Tsipras, however, stuck to his position, insisting that supportinga pro-bailout government would be a betrayal of his pre-electionplatform. "After today's meeting it is obvious they are demanding that Syrizabecome an accessory to a crime," he said after the discussions withthe president. Tsipras will also have his eye on recent opinion polls which showhis party would gain strength if Greeks go to the ballot box againnext month. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Unlocked Wifi Cell Phone Manufacturer , Netbook Laptop Computers Manufacturer for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Tablet PC With 3G Sim Slot.
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