Greek parties agree to form coalition govt.

Source: AP, Tanjug

ATHENS -- The three parties that back Greece's commitments to bailout creditors have agreed in principle to form a coalition government.

The New Democracy, the Socialist PASOK and the smaller Democratic Left party are still negotiating the final details.
Democratic Left Spokesman Gerasimos Georgatos said his party was committed to joining a government headed by the New Democracy.

"We are offering a vote of confidence, not a vote of tolerance," he said. "We will be part of the government. That means that even if we disagree on a specific draft law, we will not withdraw our support or bring down the government."

The parties are still discussing the new government's policy platform and who will be given cabinet positions.

"We will have a government today," said a PASOK spokesman, who asked not to be named as the talks are still under way.

New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras has until the end of the day to form the government and the mandate will be given to Syriza if he fails.

New Democracy took 129 of the 300 parliamentary seats, Syriza took 71, PASOK took 33 seats and Democratic Left won 17 seats in the parliamentary elections on June 17.