SYRIZA chief turns down mandate to form government

Opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Tuesday turned down the exploratory mandate to form a coalition government, admitting that his party's resounding defeat in Sunday's polls came as a "painful shock."

"I have no reason to hide that the unexpected election result came as a painful shock," Tsipras said in comments to the press outside the office of President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, who is tasked with presenting the leaders of the top three parties with an invitation to form a government before a caretaker administration is assigned to take over up to the second election, on June 25.

"The linkages don't exist to form a government," he said, rejecting the exploratory mandate.

"I hope the next election gives us a government, but until then, we need to follow procedures," said Sakellaropoulou, who is now expected to present the exploratory mandate to the...