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Greek leaders agree on coalition government

China.org.cn, November 7, 2011

• Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou Sunday has reached an agreement with the main opposition leader Antonis Samaras that he will step down when a new national unity government is formed, the president's office said in a statement.

  Greek President Karolos Papoulias (C) holds a meeting with Prime Minister George Papandreou (L) and the main Greek opposition leader Antonis Samaras at the Presidential Mansion in Athens, Greece, Nov. 6, 2011. In response to a call by Papandreou, Antonis Samaras accepted a meeting later on Sunday evening hosted by Papoulias to discuss a new coalition government. [Marios Lolos/Xinhua]

  
  
  

  The statement said that Papandreou and Samaras will meet again on Monday to discuss who will be the leader of the new government.

  "Today was a historic day for Greece," Greek government spokesman Ilias Mossialos told reporters. A new government would be sworn in and hold a confidence vote within a week if all went according to plan, Reuters quoted him as saying.

  "The new government shall lead the country to early general elections after the implementation of the October 26 EU agreement decisions," the statement said.

  The two sides agreed that elections will be held on February 19, the finance ministry said.

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