Greece’s New Democracy Says Coalition Deal is Close

Antonis Samaras, leader of the New Democracy party, arrives at the Parliament building to meet with the leader of Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, to attempt to form a coalition government on June 18. The conservative, pro-bailout New Democracy party came in first winning 130 of the 300 seats in Parliament. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

By Alex Johnston

Alex Johnston

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June 19, 2012Updated: October 1, 2015

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Epoch Times Photo — Antonis Samaras, leader of the New Democracy party, arrives at the Parliament building to meet with the leader of Syriza, Alexis Tsipras, to attempt to form a coalition government on June 18. The conservative, pro-bailout New Democracy party came in first winning 130 of the 300 seats in Parliament. (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

Greece’s center-right New Democracy party expects that it will be able to form a coalition government with the socialist PASOK party soon.

New Democracy (ND) received the most votes in the elections on Sunday but it wasn’t enough to govern alone. PASOK came in third place. The two parties are the traditional two ruling parties of Greece and both support the bailout and austerity program prescribed by the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

A senior official with ND told Athens News that a deal would be reached to form a coalition government on Tuesday. “They will participate actively,” the official, who was not named, was quoted as saying. The BBC reported that a coalition would likely be announced by midday Wednesday.

ND chief Antonis Samaras also promised that if his party forms a government, then he would push for less strict requirements for the most recent $170 billion bailout and he pledged to keep Greece in the 17-nation euro currency bloc.

According to the BBC, the ND will possibly seek to form a coalition government with PASOK and the Democratic Left.

If the ND fails to form a coalition government, then the far-left and anti-austerity party Syriza, that came in second over the weekend, will be tasked with doing so. If Syriza fails, PASOK will then be given the chance.

Alexis Tsipras, the head of Syriza, has said he refuses to join a government with ND and said he would not attempt to form a coalition government if given the chance.