Greek government talks in final stretch

11-May (AP) — Greece’s wrangling politicians were locked in last-ditch efforts Friday to form a coalition government, with chances of a deal appearing slim and the country’s future in Europe’s common currency at stake.

Voters on Sunday punished both main parties, the conservative New Democracy and socialist PASOK, for their handling of the country’s protracted financial crisis, deserting them for a myriad of smaller parties on the right and left. The result left a hung parliament, with no party able to form a government.

Hopes for a deal between election winner New Democracy and third place PASOK with the small Democratic Left party of Fotis Kouvelis suffered a setback Friday when Kouvelis insisted he could not participate in a government with just the conservatives and socialists.

“We have made our position clear. In a government with (only) New Democracy and PASOK, we will not take part,” Kouvelis said.

[source]

PG View: Last weekend’s elections were so loved by the markets…it’ll be really fun to do it again in several weeks. The latest polling in Greece shows a new election would garner even greater support for anti-bailout Syriza party. Yeah, that’ll be real fun…