EUROPEAN REACTION:EURO ZONE finance ministers called for the swift formation of a Greek government pledged to execute the country's EU-IMF rescue deal after pro-bailout leader Antonis Samaras declared victory in the election.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who backed Mr Samaras, said he wanted Europe to be able to move on from the Greek problem and settle the debt crisis definitively.
The euro zone ministers, who gather on Thursday to take stock of the election, said provisional results from Athens “should allow” for the formation of a government to bring Greece back on a path of sustainable growth.
Inspectors from the EU-IMF “troika” will return to Greece as soon as a new government takes office.
Greece is well behind target on the delivery of key reforms, raising questions over the release of an emergency loan it needs to avoid running out of cash next month.
Although he is still regarded as something of an unknown quantity, Mr Samaras is seen in European circles as the best hope to lead a government pledged to execute the bailout.
At the same time, his reluctance to embrace the rescue scheme fully has led to questions over his willingness to proceed with the onerous austerity package which accompanies emergency loans to the country.
“The euro group reiterates its commitment to assist Greece in its adjustment effort in order to address the many challenges the economy is facing,” the ministers said in a statement issued by Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, who chairs their talks.
“The euro group therefore looks forward to the swift formation of a new Greek government that will take ownership of the adjustment programme to which Greece and the euro group earlier this year committed themselves.”
The ministers said they acknowledged the considerable efforts already made by the Greek people and added they were convinced continued fiscal and structural reforms are the country’s best guarantee to overcome the current economic and social challenges.
In Dublin last evening before Mr Samaras declared victory, Mr Kenny said the election would be a cliffhanger until the very end.
“I obviously have made it perfectly clear that I hope that Mr Samaras can come through here and that Greece can remain part of the euro and we can get on to dealing with this euro crisis and sort it out,” said the Taoiseach.
Asked whether Ireland had a contingency plan to deal with a possible Greek exit from the euro, he said the Government always believed the Greek people wanted to stay in the single currency.
“Clearly every country is vigilant about this and they’ve seen the reports of international banks and situations making contingency plans,” Mr Kenny said.
“But for us we hope that the euro will continue, that the euro zone will continue, that we can deal with this crisis and that it will be dealt with by political leaders because it requires a political response.”
