Greek PM Alexis Tsipras resigned and called for snap polls

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a televised address to the nation announced his resignation on 20 August 2015. He submitted his resignation to President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and asked for the earliest possible election date.

41-year-old Tsipras, who was elected as the Prime Minister in January 2015, said that he felt a deep moral obligation to lay his action before the judgement of the Greek people.

Tsipras resigned with an aim to defend the massive bailout of 86 billion-euro (96 billion dollars), which Greece received from the creditors. This third bailout to the country since 2010, led to rebellion within his left-wing Syriza party.

Earlier in the day, Greece received its first 14.5 billion dollars tranche, allowing it to repay a debt to the European Central Bank and avoid a default.

Tsipras's announcement leaves Greece in the hands of a caretaker government until the vote. According to the Greek news agency ANA, the election is expected to be held on 20 September 2015.

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