Wednesday 20 June 2012

Greek Socialists say government agreed

Leader of conservative New Democracy party Samaras is cheered by supporters after his statement on election results in Athens
Leader of conservative New Democracy party Samaras is cheered by supporters after his statement on election results in Athens (JOHN KOLESIDIS, REUTERS / June 17, 2012)
ATHENS (Reuters) - A conservative-led Greek government has been agreed and will form a team to "renegotiate" the EU/IMF bailout saving the country from bankruptcy, Socialist PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos said on Wednesday.

Venizelos, whose PASOK party will enter alliance with the larger conservative New Democracy, said cabinet posts would be decided by Wednesday evening. He said the key issue would be to form a team to renegotiate the 130 billion euro ($164.79 billion) bailout.

"Greece has a government and this is the message that the outgoing finance minister (George) Zanias will take to the Eurogroup," Venizelos told reporters.

($1 = 0.7889 euros)

(Reporting by Harry Papchristou and George Georgiopoulos; Writing by Matt Robinson)