Coalition Challenges Push Bulgaria Toward Potential April Elections
In Bulgaria, the political climate remains tense as parties struggle to form a stable coalition following parliamentary elections
Results published by the interior ministry indicate a clear win for Greece's governing left-wing Syriza party which campaigned for a "No" vote, saying the bailout terms were humiliating. The party, which swept to power on an anti-austerity ticket, argued that a ‘No’ vote would strengthen its hand to win a better deal in talks with international creditors.
The "Yes" camp, however, warned a ‘No’ vote could deny Greece badly needed bailout aid and ultimately eject the debt-laden countryout of the eurozone.
After the latest official results were in, the Greek government said it wants to resume talks with its European partners. Greece's current bailout programme with the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank expired on Tuesday.
"The negotiations which will start must be concluded very soon, even within 48 hours," government spokesman Gabriel Sakellaridis told Greek television, according to Reuters. "We will undertake every effort to seal it soon."
The Greek government's chief negotiator, Euclid Tsakalotos, said talks could resume as early as this evening.
The government in Athens broke off negotiations on the rescue plan just days before Greece was due to repay EUR 1.5 B to the IMF on Tuesday. With state coffers empty, Greece defaulted on its IMF debt, and was forced to impose capital controls and close banks as of Monday to halt an outflow cash as anxious Greeks rushed to withdraw money.
With 99% of the votes counted in Romania’s parliamentary elections, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, has secured the largest share of the vote with 23%
North Macedonia’s President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, expressed her opposition to resolving issues related to what she referred to as the "Bulgarian veto," criticizing the European Union for its lack of a comprehensive enlargement strategy
Greek authorities have recently intensified efforts to prepare for potential threats in the wake of escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine
Aleksandar Nikoloski, North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, stated that the country’s challenges in advancing EU accession talks stem not from major EU players like France
Bulgaria has made it clear that it is not setting any additional conditions for North Macedonia’s European Union membership negotiations
Romania’s incumbent Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), is set to be eliminated in the first round of the country’s presidential election
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