Conservatives fail in coalition bid

May 7 2012

The leader of the Greek conservative party that gained the most votes in parliamentary elections says his efforts to form a coalition government with other parties have failed.

Now, the leftist party that came in second will get a chance to cobble together a ruling alliance.

Conservative leader Antonis Samaras said his attempts to convince the heads of all the parties that might have been open to a coalition did not succeed.

He has handed back the mandate to form a government to the country's president.

The president will give the mandate to Alexis Tsipras, the head of the Radical Left Coalition party. Mr Tsipras will have three days to seek a coalition.

If his talks fail, the party that came in third in Sunday's vote will get the mandate. No agreement could force new elections next month.