Greece PM Alexis Tsipras resigns, calls for snap election
Move comes with the leftist leader facing a rebellion in his Syriza party over austerity measures demanded in a new international bailout
Athens: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his resignation on Thursday and called for early elections in the crisis-hit country, widely expected to be held on 20 September.
“I will shortly meet with the president of the republic and present my resignation and that of my government," Tsipras said in a televised address to the nation.
The move comes with the leftist leader facing a rebellion in his governing Syriza party over austerity measures demanded in a massive new international bailout worth about €86 billion over three years.
Government sources cited by the official news agency ANA said earlier he had proposed elections on 20 September.
“I want to submit to the Greek people everything I have done (since taking office in January) so that they can decide once more," Tsipras said.
His announcement came after debt-crippled Greece paid a huge debt to the European Central Bank on Thursday, effectively starting its third international rescue package in five years.
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