SYRIZA’s Tsipras receives exploratory mandate
Alexis Tsipras, head of the runner-up SYRIZA party in Sunday’s general elections, said «this is a historical moment for the left and a big responsibility for me,» in his meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulias, who handed Tsipras the exploratory mandate to form a government after the leading New Democracy party failed to do so on Monday.
“The effort starts now; we will do all we can,» he told Papoulias, who stressed the importance of a government being formed.
Tsipras also said that he would have had better chances of forming a government if the electoral law were different, «or if more people had voted for us.”
“The people have decided. We must respect their decision and do our best,» Tsipras said.
The 38-year-old politician is due to meet with the chiefs of left-wing parties, as well as with the heads of business associations and labor unions. He has said that he will exhaust the three-day deadline of his mandate to form a new government.
