国际英语新闻:Greek socialist, Left leaders call for unity government to review bailout deals after polls

ATHENS, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Greek socialist PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left leader Fotis Kouvelis called on Sunday for the formation of a national unity government after the June 17 general elections to review international bailout deals with lenders, ease the pressure on recession-hit Greece and keep it in the eurozone.

One week before the critical polls that could determine the debt-ridden country's future, the second in two months, the two leaders presented similar proposals, as opinion surveys indicate that, like the first round of polls on May 6, no party again would win absolute parliamentary majority to form a government and implement its policies.

"The country can not be governed with slim majorities," Venizelos stressed during a press briefing in Athens, arguing that a weak government would not be able to push through any measures to solve Greece's debt crisis.

The former Finance Minister suggested instead the formation of a "national shared responsibility" government to renegotiate "with credibility" some painful terms of the two bailout agreements Greece signed with EU counterparts and International Monetary Fund (IMF) since May 2010 to avert a chaotic default that could destabilize the entire euro zone.

Marathon talks over the formation of a coalition or national unity government after the May 6 elections have ended in deadlock, leading to fresh elections next weekend.

Venizelos sent his eight-point proposal to the leaders of the other parties, such as conservative New Democracy (ND) and Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) which ranked first and second in the May 6 polls.

With SYRIZA leading the anti-austerity forces that push for a radical shake-up of Greece's plan to address the crisis that amounts to an annulment of the deals, PASOK, ND and Democratic Left call for a milder review of the agreements.