CTVNEWS

Greek PM to reshuffle Cabinet after coalition talks fail

The Associated Press Published Wednesday, June 15, 2011 6:14PM EDT

Text:

ATHENS, Greece - Greece's prime minister says he will reshuffle his Cabinet on Thursday and seek a vote of confidence for his new government in Parliament, after coalition talks with opposition parties failed.

The discussions came as anti-austerity riots hit central Athens. Prime Minister George Papandreou has struggled against falling approval ratings and an internal party revolt among the governing Socialists over a new package of austerity measures.

The measures must be passed by Parliament before the end of the month if debt-ridden Greece can continue receiving funding from its international bailout.

RELATED IMAGES

view larger image

Demonstrators who gather in front of the Parliament in Athens' main Syntagma square point laser beams at the riot police, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP / Dimitri Messinis)
In this image taken from TV, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, talks to the nation in a live TV broadcast Wednesday June 15, 2011, in Athens, Greece. (AP / TV pool)
A Greek protester runs from Greek riot police officers during clashes in Athens' main Syntagma square, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP / Kostas Tsironis)
A demonstrator confronts riot police at Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament in central Athens, during a rally against plans for new austerity measures, on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP / Thanassis Stavrakis)
Demonstrators confront riot police at Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament in central Athens, during a rally against plans for new austerity measures, on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP / Thanassis Stavrakis)
A riot police officer sprays a demonstrator at Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament in central Athens, during a rally against plans for new austerity measures, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP / Dimitri Messinis)
Demonstrators gesture outside the Parliament during a rally against plans for new austerity measures, in central Athens, Wednesday, June 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)