Tomorrow is the start of a critical few weeks forEurope when the fate of Greece, the euro and the weaker eurozone countries could well change for ever.

Greek stock markets rebounded strongly today from a 22-year low on hopes a pro-bailout party will win crucial national elections next month, which would avoid a catastrophic rift with international creditors and keep the struggling country within the eurozone.

GREECE is going through one of its periodic self-mutilations.

The euro weakened for a seventh successive day against the dollar as Greek politicians struggled to form a new government after elections raised the prospect of the country withdrawing from the currency bloc.

Greece faces weeks of financial turmoil after voters angry at crippling income cuts punished mainstream politicians, let a far-right extremist group into Parliament and gave no party enough votes to govern alone.

Greece faces days, possibly weeks, of political instability after voters angry at crippling income cuts punished mainstream politicians.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the election of François Hollande as French president would make no difference to the referendum on the fiscal treaty and the vote will go ahead as planned.

Greece's parliament has today approved a new international bailout deal, which will see the crisis-hit country receive an additional €172bn in rescue loans.

Greece’s conservative prime minister has won re-election with a diminished majority in parliament after a financial scandal and devastating forest fires that killed more than 65 people last month.

Conservative prime minister, Costas Karamanlis, declared victory in Greece's parliamentary election tonight, although official results showed he would have a slimmer majority in parliament.

GREECE’S governing conservatives appeared headed for election victory last night, exit polls showed, despite widespread anger over devastating forest fires that killed more than 65 people last month.