Greece to hold early elections on Sept 20, source says / Tsipras resigns, paving way for snap elections

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras resigned on the 20 August 2015. Government sources said that new elections would be held probably on the 20 September 2015.

Following the adoption of an onerous third bailout agreement with international creditors in August 2015, which sections of his Syriza Party opposed, Mr Tsipras felt the need to seek a new mandate from the people to implement the agreement.

On the 21 August 2015 twenty five left-wing MPs of the Syriza Party broke away to form a new Popular Unity Party.

On the 27 August 2015 the Greek president appointed an interim prime minister Vassiliki Thanou as the country prepared for fresh elections the following months. Her selection came after all the major parties were unable to form governments.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Third Greek Bailout likely to overcome national hurdles http://www.europeansources.info/record/third-greek-bailout-likely-to-overcome-national-hurdles/

ESO: Background information: Greece agrees bailout deal, averts default http://www.europeansources.info/record/greece-agrees-bailout-deal-averts-default-tsipras-wins-bailout-vote-faces-widening-rebellion/

ESO: Background information: The Greek debt crisis: Key sources http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-greek-debt-crisis-key-sources/

ESO: Background information: Greek legislative election, 25 January 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-legislative-election-25-january-2015/

Politico, 20.08.15: Tsipras resigns, calls for snap elections http://www.politico.eu/article/greece-snap-elections-tsipras-syriza/

EurActiv, 20.08.15: Tsipras to announce early elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/tsipras-announce-early-elections-316958

EurActiv, 21.08.15: Tsipras resigns, calls for September election http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/tsipras-resigns-calls-september-election-316971

Kathimerini, 20.08.15: Tsipras resigns, paving way for snap elections http://www.ekathimerini.com/200770/article/ekathimerini/news/tsipras-resigns-paving-way-for-snap-elections

Kathimerini, 21.08.15: SYRIZA rebels break away to form new group http://www.ekathimerini.com/200776/article/ekathimerini/news/syriza-rebels-break-away-to-form-new-group

Kathimerini, 21.08.15: EU calls on Greece to stick with reforms, stresses positives of elections http://www.ekathimerini.com/200774/article/ekathimerini/news/eu-calls-on-greece-to-stick-with-reforms-stresses-positives-of-elections

EUObserver, 21.08.15: Tsipras calls early elections to boost mandate https://euobserver.com/news/129942

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 21.08.15: Tsipras wants new elections in Greece http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER168486-Tsipras-wants-new-elections-in-Greece

BBC News, 21.08.15: Greece crisis: Syriza rebels form new Popular Unity party http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34014083

Deutsche Welle, 21.08.15: Greece: Far-left lawmakers defect from Tsipras' Syriza party ahead of possible polls http://dw.com/p/1GJGd

The Conversation, 21.08.15: Why Alexis Tsipras has called a snap election in Greece https://theconversation.com/why-alexis-tsipras-has-called-a-snap-election-in-greece-46496

EurActiv, 24.08.15: Greek leftists to take government mandate amid early election row http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/greek-leftists-take-government-mandate-amid-early-election-row-317000

Kathimerini, 24.08.15: Greek election campaign to begin this week after Lafazanis bid http://www.ekathimerini.com/200837/article/ekathimerini/news/greek-election-campaign-to-begin-this-week-after-lafazanis-bid

Kathimerini, 24.08.15: [Comment]: Greek election will pit Tsipras’s SYRIZA 2.0 against what’s left http://www.ekathimerini.com/200838/article/ekathimerini/comment/greek-election-will-pit-tsiprass-syriza-20-against-whats-left

Chatham House: Expert Comment, 22.08.15: Why a Snap Election Can't Save Greece http://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/why-snap-election-cant-save-greece

EurActiv, 27.08.15: Ahead of election, Syriza poses as guarantor of bailout deal http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/ahead-election-syriza-poses-guarantor-bailout-deal-317107

Deutsche Welle, 27.08.15: Greece names new prime minister http://dw.com/p/1GMzD

Kathimerini, 27.08.15: Supreme Court head named caretaker Greek PM http://www.ekathimerini.com/200948/article/ekathimerini/news/supreme-court-head-named-caretaker-greek-pm

Politico, 31.08.15: Greek elections too close to call http://www.politico.eu/article/greek-elections-too-close-to-call-tsipras-grexit-samaras-lafazanis/

Kathimerini, 31.08.15: Greek election may reopen can of worms http://www.ekathimerini.com/201043/opinion/ekathimerini/comment/greek-election-may-reopen-can-of-worms

ESO: Background information: Greek legislative election, September 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/greek-legislative-election-20-september-2015/

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