Brussels Refuses to Comment on Bulgaria's Euro Referendum as Convergence Report Progresses
The European Commission has refrained from commenting on President Rumen Radev's call for a referendum on Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone
Greece's major political parties have picked Parliament Speaker Filippos Petsalnikos to head the country's new caretaker government, according to unconfirmed reports.
The news came from party sources cited by global media Wednesday night, as the talks between the ruling Socialist party PASOK and the rightist opposition New Democracy had been going on for days, and about the same time Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said he was stepping down on Wednesday without saying who would succeed him.
Parties from left and right have settled on veteran socialist Filippos Petsalnikos, barring-last minute snags, the sources said, turning to their own political class.
In a television address before heading to meet the president, Papandreou wished the new prime minister well without giving any name and declared that Greece had avoided bankruptcy.
He also said the new government would win approval for Greece's 130 billion euro bailout deal and secure the nation's membership of the euro zone despite its crisis.
"I am proud that, despite the difficulties, we avoided bankruptcy and ensured the country stayed on its feet," he said. "I want to wish the new prime minister success, I will support the new effort with all my strength."
"Today, despite our differences -- political and social differences do exist -- we have put aside our fruitless conflict and disagreement," Papandreou said.
It was left to the party sources to give Greeks some idea of who their leader will be until early elections are held in February. They named speaker Filippos Petsalnikos, 60, who founded the PASOK party along with Papandreou's father Andreas, Greece's first socialist prime minister.
Greece's international lenders had put their faith in a plan for Lucas Papademos, a former vice-president of the European Central Bank, to head the new government as a technocrat and give it the credibility that politicians lost long ago.
Wages across Europe show considerable variation, with substantial differences in both nominal salaries and cost of living. A useful indicator in assessing these disparities is the average adjusted full-time salary of employees
Ukraine, backed by its European allies, is pressing Russia to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire set to commence on May 12
Following U.S. mediation, India and Pakistan announced a ceasefire on Saturday after days of intense conflic
The European Commission has refrained from commenting on President Rumen Radev's call for a referendum on Bulgaria's entry into the eurozone
Russia is set to close its airspace over the Kapustin Yar military training and rocket launch complex from May 12 to 13
Thousands of Slovak citizens took to the streets in Bratislava and other cities on the night of May 9 to protest Prime Minister Robert Fico’s attendance at the Moscow parade
Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update
Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase