ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Left-wing Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras has become Greece's new prime minister after agreeing to form a governing coalition with right-wing party Greek Independents.
Syriza and Greek Independents will form an anti-austerity coalition with a majority of seats in parliament to renegotiate Greece's bailout measures imposed after the eurozone crisis.
Syriza is set to win 149 of the 151 seats it needed to gain an absolute majority. Syriza won 36 percent of the votes while outgoing New Democracy won 28 percent.
#Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras is sworn in as Greece's new prime minister http://t.co/G3qfZ8ZLi9 pic.twitter.com/EVU1WoOiHL
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 26, 2015The Office of the Press Secretary at the White House issued a statement congratulating Greece on the elections and looks forward to working with the new government.
"The Greek people have taken many difficult but important steps to lay the groundwork for economic recovery," the statement said. "As a longstanding friend and ally, the United States will continue to support their efforts and those of the international community to strengthen the foundation for Greece's long-term prosperity."
Syriza's leader, Alexis Tsipras, 40, promised to end some of Greece's austerity measures sparked by economic bailouts in 2010 and also pledged to renegotiate the country's debt.
Tsipras met with Greek Independents leader Panos Kammenos on Monday morning.
Greece's government debt was 175 percent of gross domestic product ($242.2 billion) in 2013.
