Greek Socialist party leader, Evangelos Venizelos makes his statements to the press after his meeting with the conservative party leader in the Greek parliament in Athens, on June 18, 2012. Evangelos Venizelos said he hoped a new national unity government could be formed on Tuesday, following coalition talks with the conservative leader who won Sunday's elections. AFP PHOTO / LOUISA GOULIAMAKI (Photo credit should read LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP/GettyImages)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek socialist party head Evangelos Venizelos says a three-party coalition government could be formed by mid-Wednesday.
The creation of a generally pro-bailout government could help calm the markets and end, at least temporarily, a deep political crisis that has seen the debt-struck country hold two general elections in six weeks.
Venizelos' PASOK party came third in Sunday's elections. The conservative New Democracy party came first, but without enough seats to form a government. The radical left anti-bailout Syriza party in second place has refused to join any government that will implement the terms of Greece's international bailout.
Venizelos said Tuesday that a government could be formed by mid-Wednesday with New Democracy, PASOK and the small Democratic Left party.
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6/19/2012 1:23:33 PM (GMT -4:00)
Associated Press