ATHENS — Greek President Karolos Papoulias dissolved the country’s two-day-old parliament Saturday, paving the way for fresh elections June 17, which are shaping up as a game of chicken over the country’s continued membership in the euro.
“We call voters to elect lawmakers on Sunday, June 17, 2012, and we convene the parliament that will result after the elections on Thursday, June 28,” the presidential decree dissolving the body said. In keeping with tradition, the decree was formally posted at the entrance of the Greek parliament.
Party leaders failed to form a cross-party coalition after recent elections produced a highly-fragmented parliament, and senior judge Panagiotis Pikrammenos was appointed prime minister.
A caretaker government was sworn in Thursday, putting in place a technocratic cabinet and the parliament was convened for just two sessions, with the sole purpose of leading the country to fresh elections.
Results of May 6 elections denied an outright majority in parliament to Greece’s two battered establishment parties, the conservative New Democracy party and socialist Pasok, which have been seeking to implement austerity policies. Five other parties that campaigned against the austerity program won more than 60 percent of the vote.
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