Greek Judge Appointed Caretaker Prime Minister Ahead of Elections Thursday August 27,2015

 

Greece's top Supreme Court Judge was sworn in as caretaker prime minister on Thursday August 27,2015 to lead the country to elections next month, ending a week of political deadlock after leftist leader Alexis Tsipras resigned.

Greece's Supreme top Court judge Vassiliki Thanou (L) stands in front of President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (R) during her swearing in ceremony

 

 

Vassiliki Thanou, an opponent of austerity who has argued against wage cuts for judges and court officials, and her new interim government will remain in place at least until parliamentary elections are held, expected to be on Sept. 20.

"I'm especially happy because I'm receiving the first woman prime minister in the history of the Greek democracy, and this is an important step," Tsipras told Thanou at a handover ceremony at the prime ministerial mansion.

Her appointment ends a week of fruitless negotiations as top opposition party leaders took turns at trying to form a government, exercising a constitutional right that takes effect if a prime minister resigns within a year of being elected.