President Set To Appoint Caretaker PM Ahead Of New Elections

As expected, the Greek presidency has confirmed that President Katerina Sakellaropoulou is set to appoint a caretaker prime minister to oversee the gov't ahead of a new set of elections that are likely to take place in late-June. Under the Greek constitution, a senior judicial figure is appointed to lead the gov't in the interim period.

• The appointment follows a final meeting with party heads, mandated by the constitution, in an effort to reach a coalition agreement. After the refusal of PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tspiras, and PASOK head Nikos Androulakis to form gov'ts, a snap election is the only option open for the president.
• The sole opinion poll carried out in the wake of the 21 May election shows Mitsotakis' on course for a comfortable majority in parliament under the 'reinforced proportionality' system that will be used in the upcoming vote (providing the largest party with additional seats to give them a workable majority in parliament).
• Kapa Research: New Democracy: 41.3% (+0.5), SYRIZA: 19.5% (-0.6), PASOK: 14.4% (+2.9%), Greek Communist Party: 9.2% (+2.0%), Greek Solution: 4.6% (+0.1), Democratic Patriotic Movement-Victory: 3.5% (+0.6%), Course of Freedom: 3.9% (+1.0%). Chgs w/21 May Election Result, Fieldwork 22-23 May, 1,002 respondents.