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Leader of Greek Conservative Opposition Party Challenges Tsipras to Debate

© REUTERS / Stoyan NenovLeader of Greek conservative New Democracy party Vangelis Meimarakis speaks to Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (not pictured) during their meeting in the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, August 21, 2015
Leader of Greek conservative New Democracy party Vangelis Meimarakis speaks to Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (not pictured) during their meeting in the presidential palace in Athens, Greece, August 21, 2015 - Sputnik International
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Vangelis Meimarakis, the leader of Greece’s second-largest opposition party, New Democracy, challenged former Greek Prime Minister to participate in two TV debates.

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Vangelis Meimarakis, the leader of Greece’s second-largest opposition party, New Democracy, on Thursday accused former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of "going into hiding," challenging him to take part in at least two televised debates, the daily Ekathemirini reported.

Tsipras announced his resignation on August 20 to pave the way for early elections in a bid to secure popular support for his stance on the new 86-billion-euro ($95-billion) bailout package with the country's creditors.

Following Tsipras’ resignation, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Friday granted the leader of Greece's official opposition, Meimarakis, a mandate to form a new government. However, Meimarakis failed to take advantage of the three-day window to form a ruling coalition.

According to the article, in his speech addressed to the conservative party’s deputies, Meimarakis wondered why the prime minister did not seek snap elections before agreeing to the new bailout, but only after the proposed deal had been ratified.

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Greece is expected to hold the elections next month, reportedly as early as September 20.

The ruling Syriza party, led by Tsipras, had promised to revise Greece’s austerity measures, unpopular with the Greek public, after securing victory in the January election.

In a nationwide referendum in July, the country voted against a new bailout deal with its international creditors.

However, later in July, Greece's creditors signed an agreement with the country's government, approving a third bailout package for Athens in exchange for more austerity reforms that include tax increases and pension cuts.

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