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Greece president vote inconclusive after first round | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The Greek parliament has failed to elect a new president in the first of three rounds of voting. | |
The government's candidate got 160 votes - 40 short of an outright win. | |
If Stavros Dimas fails to get elected after two more voting rounds over the next fortnight, there will be an early general election. | |
Correspondents say that the radical left-wing opposition coalition Syriza is favourite to win in event of a general election. | |
A second presidential vote - in which the winner will also require 200 votes for a victory - will now be held on 23 December. | |
A third vote is scheduled for 29 December. For that election, a total of 180 parliamentary votes would be enough to secure a win. | |
Greece's two-party coalition has 155 seats and needs support from opposition or independent lawmakers to ensure a win for Mr Dimas. | |
"There are another two rounds ahead of us," Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said while leaving parliament after the vote. | |
"I hold hope that a [new] president will be elected. | |
"The conditions are difficult for the country, and I am certain that lawmakers are aware that the country must not enter troubled times." | |
Anger over tough austerity measures - demanded by international creditors - has fuelled many protests in Greece. | Anger over tough austerity measures - demanded by international creditors - has fuelled many protests in Greece. |
Mr Samaras has warned that the country could risk a disastrous exit from the eurozone if MPs failed to elect a president. | |
BBC Europe correspondent Chris Morris says that Wednesday's result suggests that it will be very hard for the government to secure enough votes. | |
If the 29 December vote produces no definitive winner, parliament will be dissolved and the prime minister must hold snap national elections in early 2015. | |
Syriza is considered a favourite to win in event of such a vote. The party has promised to ditch the austerity measures and get a portion of Greece's international debt written off if it is elected. | |
The parliamentary vote is being keenly watched by leaders in Europe as several countries become increasingly frustrated with austerity and Brussels-led policies. | |
Many Greeks have complained of great hardship resulting from public sector job cuts and savings in welfare budgets. | Many Greeks have complained of great hardship resulting from public sector job cuts and savings in welfare budgets. |
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