SYRIZA’s central committee to meet on Thursday

SYRIZA’s central committee will convene on Thursday following the main opposition’s bruising performance in the general election.

A party announcement said the meeting at a central Athens hotel would begin with a speech by party leader Alexis Tsipras at 5 p.m.

Earlier, Tsipras told President Katerina Sakellaropoulou that he was turning down a mandate to form a coalition government, saying he was preparing for a second election in June after what he called a “painful” electoral defeat for his SYRIZA party.

“I have no reason to hide that the electoral result is a painful shock, it was unexpected,” Tsipras said outside the presidential mansion. “I take full responsibility for this result, but in my dictionary that means standing and fighting.” [AMNA, Reuters]