Acting Greek PM meets party leaders

Greece’s newly installed caretaker prime minister is meeting party leaders ahead of Wednesday’s European Union summit as campaigning gets under way for next month’s elections.

Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos, a senior judge, is holding successive talks with all party leaders to ensure that all goes smoothly until the June 17 poll.

Mr Pikrammenos has no power to make any binding decisions while parliament, which was elected in the inconclusive May 6 elections, has been dissolved.

The May 6 poll triggered a political crisis and raised questions whether debt-stricken Greece will stay in Europe’s monetary union. The vote was split between parties insisting that the country lives up to its austerity pledges and those that want to revoke them.

Greece is dependent on outside assistance to stave off bankruptcy.