Greek government-debt crisis

An independent committee set up to oversee Greece?s statistical system highlighted alleged attempts to influence the work of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) in a report published on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is expected to change the focus of his election campaign on Saturday, when he is due to present his party?s economic strategy after concentrating on Wednesday on SYRIZA?s stance on law and order as well as immigration.

By Mike Dolan

British elections in May could arguably have as much impact on euro zone stability as this month's snap poll in Greece, making for an anxious period of up to six months for European investors.

The return of deflation to the eurozone and continued talk about a possible Greek exit from the economic and monetary union inflicted fresh losses on local stocks on Wednesday, although these were contained to less than 1.5 percent for the benchmark ? from over 3.5 percent earlier in the day ? marking a new 26-month low.

The German government is not planning for a Greek exit from the eurozone, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said on Wednesday, after Germany's Bild newspaper reported Berlin was working on contingency plans for an exit and possible run on banks.

By Rainer Buergin, Birgit Jennen & Brian Parkin

Germany is leaving the door open to discussing debt relief with Greece?s next government, lawmakers in Chancellor Angela Merkel?s coalition said, signaling a more flexible stance than her administration has taken publicly.

Greek anti-bailout opposition party Syriza's lead over the ruling conservatives has narrowed slightly, according to a poll conducted after Prime Minister Antonis Samaras called a snap parliamentary election for January 25.

Greece stands at a landmark turning point while SYRIZA is no longer simply the country's hope but currently incarnates the prospect of change for Europe as a whole, noted opposition leader Alexis Tsipras in an opinion piece published in Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Wednesday.

Any political turmoil in Greece following this month?s election is no longer a threat to the wider stability of the euro area, said Michael Fuchs, a senior lawmaker from Chancellor Angela Merkel?s party.

As some European officials sought to dampen talk of a possible Greek exit from the euro, New Democracy and SYRIZA on Tuesday broadened the scope of the debate ahead of the January 25 elections.