Greek PM seeks snap poll in early July

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wants a snap poll to take place in early July to avoid disrupting university entrance examinations, the government spokesman said on Tuesday. Tsipras called the early vote after his leftist Syriza party suffered a heavy defeat to the opposition conservative New Democracy party in Sunday's election for the European Parliament.

There has been speculation the election could take place as early as June 30. The official date will be announced after Tsipras meets the president next week. "We don't want nationwide examinations which wrap up on July 2 to be disrupted in any way," government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos told Alpha TV station.

"For that reason, the prime minister talked to the education minister and they have agreed that the most appropriate right now is to have the election on July 7."