Greek government-debt crisis

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras accused SYRIZA on Friday of preparing to make unilateral moves that would spark a Greek default if it comes to power, as the opposition party tried to distance itself from suggestions by one of its own MPs that it might stop repaying the country’s debt.

Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced the creation of a new political party on Jan. 2, confirming a long-expected split from the centre-left PASOK and complicating the potential outcome of this month's general election.

Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou announced the creation of a new political party on Friday, confirming a long-expected split from the center-left PASOK and complicating the potential outcome of this month's general election.

Papandreou, the son of one of Greece's most prominent

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will begin his national election campaign on Saturday, when he will visit Thessaly in central Greece.

Deputy Prime Minister and PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos is due to speak in the Peloponnese over the weekend.

As the campaign for the January 25 elections gets under way, the government has accused SYRIZA of risking a Greek default after several opposition party officials suggested that a leftist administration might stop paying the country’s loan obligations if its lenders do not provide debt relief.

Democratic Left’s (DIMAR) bid to be absorbed within SYRIZA appears to have failed after the party’s two leaders were unable to agree on the terms of a potential cooperation.

In his final New Year’s message as president of the republic, Karolos Papoulias called for Greece’s political parties to show unity.

“National unity is necessary for success,” he said.

Parliament dissolved, Greece to vote on Jan. 25

ATHENS -- The Greek parliament has been dissolved ahead of early elections to be held on January 25, as announced by the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

Greek MPs on Monday failed in their third and final attempt to elect former EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas (73) as head of state.

Greece's parliament was dissolved on Wednesday ahead of an early election warily watched by markets and international creditors concerned that the austerity-weary country could begin to undo fiscal reforms.

Greece's parliament was formally dissolved Wednesday by a decree, officially marking the start of a monthlong election campaign, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The decree, cosigned by President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, sets January 25 as the date for new elections and announced that parliament would reconvene on February 5 following those elections.