Greece sets June 17 date for new elections | WPN World People News

Debt-hit Greece Wednesday announced new elections on June 17 with a senior judge being appointed to head a caretaker government to oversee the ballot.

Council of State president Panagiotis Pikrammenos, the head of Greece's top administrative court, is to be caretaker prime minister, the Athens News Agency said.

The developments came amid reports that Greeks have been withdrawing hundreds of millions of euros from banks in recent days over fears the country might be forced out of the Eurozone.

The date for the new polls comes 10 days after the May 6 election failed to throw up any single party with majority to form government. The elections saw voters, angry over the austerity measures, desert the major parties.

Panagiotis Pikrammenos and his cabinet are to take their oaths of office Thursday morning, Greek state television reported.

President Karolos Papoulias decided to call for new elections after three days of talks with political leaders failed to throw up a coalition to form government.

According to reports, about 700 million euros ($894 million) had been withdrawn from Greek banks on Monday.

President Papoulias in a statement Tuesday said the central bank governor had told him that the banks' "situation was very difficult... and that the banking system was currently very weak."

Meanwhile, Germany said Greece's new elections are a vote on the country's future in Europe and the euro.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a statement: "The Greek people should know what they are voting about. It's not about party politics, but about Greece's future in Europe and the euro."

"We hope and also at the same time expect that everyone in a decision-making capacity in Greece is aware of his responsibilities," he said.

Source: Europe News.Net