Greece in limbo as attempt to form government fails

A first attempt to form a new Greek government collapsed in less than a day yesterday after an election which left gaping questions over the country’s ability to avert bankruptcy and stay in the euro.

Greeks — enraged by the terms of international bail- outs which have cut wages, sent unemployment to one of the highest levels in Europe and caused a spate of suicides — deserted mainstream parties in droves in Sunday’s poll.

Antonis Samaras, leader of the conservative New Democracy party which won the biggest share of the vote, gave up trying to form a government last night within hours of getting a mandate from President Karolos Papoulias.