New Greek govt takes over, former banker at helm

New Greek govt takes over, former banker at helm

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s new technocrat Prime Minister Lucas Papademos assumed power today at the helm of an interim coalition government that will seek to push through tough reforms and ensure the country avoids a catastrophic default. Papademos, a former European Central Bank vice president, leads a government including ministers from three parties. The bitter rivalry of outgoing Prime Minister George Papandreou’s Socialists and the conservatives of Antonis Samaras has been set aside as Greece’s politicians struggle to put the country back on track financially and ensure it can retain its cherished use of the euro.