Greece has a new political force following a decision taken by 25 anti-bailout rebels to break away from Syriza and form a new party.
Laiki Enotita or Popular Unity is led by Panagiotis Lafazanis, Greece’s former Energy Minister. They hope to form a government following the resignation of Alexis Tsipras as prime minister.
Under Greece’s constitution, the three biggest parties in parliament are given a three-day mandate to form a new administration.
The Syriza leader is hoping to strengthen his hold on power if elections take place. This follows a new 86-billion-euro rescue package from Europe in exchange for further painful reforms.
However, the Greek parliament’s speaker objected to the procedure followed by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in upholding a mandate to form a new administration. She said it had been handled with an “unconstitutional rush”.
Meanwhile, the leader of the conservative New Democracy Party,Vangelis Meimarakis, met with Greece’s president in Athens.
