Greece has a new prime minister—presumably for real this time. The AP reports that Lucas Papademos, former VP at the European Central Bank, has been officially named the PM of the new interim coalition government. T he president's office made the announcement today, Reuters adds. Papademos had been the frontrunner to replace George Papandreou, but yesterday parliament speaker Filippos Petsalnikos was named as the likely replacement. That deal then fell through.
Both of Greece’s major political parties appear on board, notes the Wall Street Journal: An “agreement has been reached on Mr. Papademos to become prime minister and he has accepted. Senior members from both parties will make up Mr. Papademos' Cabinet,” says a conservative opposition party official. A socialist party official notes, “It's finally over, we have a new prime minister. Mr. Papademos will be sworn in today.” (Reuters, however, reports that the coalition will be sworn in tomorrow.)