Papandreous podria renunciar este Domingo despues de la reunion de cabinete que delinearia el sendero a una coalicion de gobierno.
Greek Leader May Step Down
By COSTAS PARIS And ALKMAN GRANITSAS
ATHENS—Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou may announce his resignation after a cabinet meeting Sunday that will pave the way for a coalition government, a senior Socialist party official said.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou (left) met with Greek President Carolos Papoulias in Athens on Saturday. After an hour-long meeting, Mr. Papandreou said contacts would begin with other parties to forge a unity government.
."Papandreou wants to end the deadlock today. He will inform the cabinet of his decisions. He may step down today," the official said Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Antonis Samaras, the head of Greece's main opposition New Democracy party, called for Mr. Papandreou's immediate resignation, indicating that he was open to talks with the ruling socialists over forming a coalition government.
"The fact that Papandreou isn't stepping down is blocking any possible solution," Mr. Samaras said.
His remarks come after a week of turmoil in Greek politics that threatened to derail the country's latest Europe-led bailout and climaxed in a vote of confidence early Saturday morning. Mr. Papandreou carried the vote, but has said he is ready to step down to allow a coalition government to take over.
Greek government spokesman Elias Mossialos said there was "common ground" between the Socialists and New Democracy party and the broad outlines of a deal could be reached Sunday evening.
"By tomorrow [Monday] at the latest, we have to agree on a person as prime minister" for the new government, Mr. Mossialos said, adding that it may take a few days until coalition partners agree on the names for ministers.
Opposition Rejects Call for Coalition
.Mr. Papandreou has convened a cabinet meeting for 9 a.m. ET, in light of a gathering of euro-zone finance ministers in Brussels on Monday.
The cabinet meeting was originally scheduled to be held two hours later, but was moved forward to free up Mr. Papandreou to engage in coalition talks, Mr. Mossialos said.
On Saturday, Mr. Papandreou briefed President Karolos Papoulias on his plans to form a unity coalition.
—Stelios Bouras and Matina Stevis in Athens contributed to this article.
Write to Costas Paris at
costas.paris@dowjones.com and Alkman Granitsas at
alkman.granitsas@dowjones.com