Greece Moves Closer to Coalition, Democratic Left Joins In

Democratic Left party leader Fotis Kouvelis addresses the media after a meeting with Socialist PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos (unseen) at the Greek Parliament in Athens, Greece, June 19 2012. EPA/BGNES

Fotis Kouvelis, leader of Greece's Democratic Left party, has declared his formation's support for a coalition government led by the conservative New Democracy.

Kouvelis expects the announcement of a final agreement later on Wednesday, according to international media.

The coalition will likely also include the PASOK party, which finished third in the voting and joins New Democracy in supporting international bailouts for Greece.

New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras has to form a coalition until Wednesday after his party gathered 129 of the 300 seats in parliament.

Anti-bailout SYRIZA and Independent Greeks have rejected the chance to join the new government.

New Democracy won 29.7% of Sunday's vote (129 seats in the Parliament), while SYRIZA finished second with 26.9% (71) and left-wing PASOK was third with 12.3% (33).

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