Greece's new prime minister meets party leaders

[May 21, 2012]  ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Greece's newly installed caretaker prime minister is holding talks with party leaders ahead of Wednesday's European Union summit as campaigning gets underway for next month's elections.

Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos, a senior judge, is holding successive meetings Monday with all party leaders to ensure that all goes smoothly until the June 17 poll.

Pikrammenos has no power to make any binding decisions while parliament, which was elected in the inconclusive May 6 elections, has been dissolved.

The May 6 poll triggered a political crisis and raised questions whether debt-stricken Greece will stay in Europe's monetary union. The vote was split between parties insisting the country lives up to its austerity pledges and those that want to revoke them.

Greece is reliant on outside assistance to stave off bankruptcy.

[Associated Press]

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