May 21, 2012 
Greek President Carolos Papoulias (L) shakes hands with newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos (R) in Athens on May 16, 2012. Greece put a senior judge in charge of an emergency government to lead it to new elections on June 17 and bankers sought to calm public fears after the president said political chaos risked causing panic and a run on deposits. (Xinhua photo)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s newly installed caretaker prime minister is holding talks with party leaders ahead of Wednesday’s European Union summit as campaigning gets underway for next month’s elections.
Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos, a senior judge, is holding successive meetings Monday with all party leaders to ensure that all goes smoothly until the June 17 poll.
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 the country lives up to its austerity pledges and those that want to revoke them.
Greece is reliant on outside assistance to stave off bankruptcy. (*)
SOURCE : AP
Postd Monday, May 21, 2012
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