Greek left-winger rejects cuts pledge

The smouldering debate over European austerity burned hotter as the left-winger trying to form a new Greek government declared his country was no longer bound by pledges to impose crippling cuts in return for rescue loans.

The comments by Alexis Tsipras flew in the face of EU leaders’ insistence on fiscal discipline and sent the Greek stock market tumbling just two days after voters rejected mainstream pro-austerity politicians.