Greece to appoint caretaker PM ahead of June repeat election

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis looks on during a meeting at the presidential palace in Athens, on Wednesday. [AP]

Greece's president will appoint a caretaker prime minister on Wednesday to form a government that will lead the country to a repeat election on June 25, after last weekend's inconclusive vote.

The conservative New Democracy party of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stormed to victory polling 40.1% last Sunday, but fell short of an outright majority. The country's top three parties, including New Democracy, have turned down a mandate for a governing coalition, pushing for a second vote on June 25.

Mitsotakis believes a second vote, which gives the leading party bonus seats, will give New Democracy the majority needed to rule alone.

Opposition parties also declined separate offers to seek a coalition after failing to secure the necessary number of seats in the 300-seat legislature. They hope a second vote will boost their ratings.

On Wednesday, the...

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