ATHENS, Greece - Hopes have risen slightly that Greece could end its post-electoral deadlock without having to hold new elections, as international partners warn that Athens must stick to its hugely unpopular austerity program or abandon the euro.
Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos, who received the presidential mandate to try and form a government after two other party chiefs failed, says a meeting on Thursday with a left-wing potential kingmaker has proved encouraging.
If this third mandate fails, President Karolos Papoulias will convene party leaders in a last-ditch effort to get a deal รน otherwise new elections will be held in a month.
New elections would greatly delay Greece's commitments to pass further austerity measures and reforms, without which creditors will cut off the country's rescue loan lifeline.