ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s two pro-bailout parties appeared likely Monday to agree on forming a coalition government after a bruising election watched closely because of its potential impact on the world economy, but negotiations were pushed to a second day after the head of the socialist party insisted on a broad partnership.
Sunday’s vote — the second national election in six weeks — again left no party with enough votes to form a government on its own. Antonis Samaras’ conservative New Democracy party won the most seats in parliament and was leading efforts to forge a coalition.
The socialist PASOK party, led by former Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, came in third. Its 33 seats in the 300-member Parliament mean it can form a government with New Democracy, which gained 129 seats. A coalition would have to have a minimum of 151 seats combined to form a government.
PASOK and New Democracy have said they will stick to Greece’s international bailout commitments, although they want to renegotiate some of the harsh austerity measures imposed in return for rescue loans that have kept the country afloat since May 2010.
