Greece's bi-partisan pro-austerity coalition government failed to muster the required parliamentary support for electing the country's new head of state, 12 votes short of the required 180 in a 300-seat chamber.

The house of parliament is now expected to be dissolved imminently, taking Greece to the ballot box in four weeks' time. Wide political and societal anti-austerity discontent has given Greece's leftist opposition party Syriza a winning momentum, according to the latest public opinion polls.

During a press conference organized by Syriza, party leader Alexis Tsipras was hailed by his supporters as the country's next prime minister.

The date for Greece's upcoming general election has been set for January 25th 2015 and for the first time in Europe’s political history a leftist government might take the helm with a clear anti-austerity agenda.

свернуть