Greek conservative leader Antonis Samaras has been sworn in as the country's new prime minister. Samaras is leading a majority in parliament after forming a coalition with two minority partners that support Greece's bailout commitments.
The ceremony took place after Samaras received a formal mandate to govern from President Karolos Papoulias. Samaras, whose New Democracy party won Sunday’s election, has formed a government with the backing of the Socialist PASOK party and the smaller Democratic Left.
The coalition deal ended nearly seven weeks of political uncertainty in debt-crippled Greece that threatened to plunge Europe deeper into a financial crisis with global repercussions. But the new government is still facing pressure from the public to try to soften the bitterly resented austerity measures, which are demanded of Greece under a 130 billion euro bailout deal agreed in March with the EU and the IMF.
Newly appointed Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras (R) shakes hands
with outgoing caretaker Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos in
Athens June 20, 2012.
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras (left) meets Greek President Carolos
Papoulias in Athens.
中国公共网摘编:GAN JADE |