Finance minister warns of accidental Grexit after polls

Athens

GREECE could stumble out of the euro by accident if a new government fails to reach an agreement with international creditors soon after this month's election, Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis said.

The main challenge facing whichever government emerges from the Jan 25 vote will be to close the stalled review of Greek progress in meeting the terms of its financial rescue by the euro area and International Monetary Fund, he said. If that government is led by Syriza, it would be "prudent" to reverse its stance and negotiate an extension to the bailout before the aid supporting Greece expires on Feb 28, Mr Hardouvelis said.