What next for Greece after third coalition bid fails?
The leader of the Greek socialists, Evangelos Venizelos, has said he has failed to form a government and will now hand his mandate back to the president.
He was unable to win the support of a small left-wing party, the Democratic Left.
Mr Venizelos is the third leader to try to forge a coalition since Sunday's inconclusive elections.
The party said it would only take part in a coalition if it was also joined by Syriza, a group that wants to tear up Greece's bailout agreement with the rest of the European Union.
The BBC's Mark Lowen examines what happens next for Greece.