Summary

  • Alexis Tsipras, leader of the anti-austerity party Syriza, forms a coalition with the right-wing party Independent Greeks

  • Mr Tsipras vows to end Greece's "humiliation and pain" after Sunday's general election win

  • Syriza's victory raises fears about Greece's future in the euro as Syriza questions its 240bn euro bailout terms

  • European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker congratulates Mr Tsipras while reminding him of "fiscal responsibility"

  • Eurozone finance ministers met, with the fallout from the Greek election high on the agenda

  • All times in GMT

  1. Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliamentpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    tweets, external: Congrats @atsipras #Syriza - I wish a speedy formation of a government that will be constructive both internally and with its EU partners

  2. Greece 'must stick to the rules'published at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    More from Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the eurozone finance ministers' group, who has said Greece must "stick to the rules". He told a Eurogroup meeting "there is very little support for a write-off in Europe". Syriza made renegotiating Greece's multi-billion euro bailout a central campaign pledge.

    Jeroen Dijsselbloem with reporters in BrusselsImage source, AP
  3. Risks of 'Grexit'published at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Reuters News editor Hugo Dixon says "a Grexit is closer, but still not the most likely" scenario. Speaking on the BBC News Channel, he said there was a 25% chance of a Greek exit from the euro by the end of this year. He said the new government could run out of money in March and without a Syriza policy U-turn there would be a risk of default, capital controls and even reintroduction of the drachma.

  4. Greece bailout 'unviable'published at 14:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Syriza has a fully costed programme - something no Greek opposition party had in the past, says Costas Douzinas, a law professor at Birkbeck, University of London. It includes helping 300,000 poor families who lack food and heating. Speaking on the BBC News Channel, he said Greece's bailout conditions were "totally unviable - borrowing to pay off existing loans. Something has to give - but Greece's place in the euro is not threatened."

  5. Get involvedpublished at 14:58 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    A.J. Darcy tweets, external: Fair enough, we in #Ireland made a mess of our economy, now we're paying back billions of Euro, somehow I can't see #Greece doing the same

  6. Nick Malkoutzis, Kathimerini Englishpublished at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    tweets, external: Samaras opts for symbolism by opting not to be present for the handing over of PM responsibilities to Tsipras

  7. Postpublished at 14:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    The man on the left is Greek President Karolos Papoulias, listening to Mr Tsipras giving his oath. In a break with tradition, he took a secular oath, rather than the Greek Orthodox ceremony customary for Greek prime ministers.

    Greece"s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, right, takes a secular oath to the Greek President Karolos Papoulias at the Presidential Palace in AthensImage source, AP
  8. Far-right Golden Dawn marches onpublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Golden Dawn rally, 2014Image source, AFP
    Image caption,

    Golden Dawn rally, 2014

    How did far-right Golden Dawn manage to come third, with 6.3%, even though its leaders are in jail? It has built up a loyal following who like its anti-immigrant, anti-establishment rhetoric, experts say. Read our analysis here.

  9. Get involvedpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Stuart Knowles from Warrington emails: Whilst it is understandable that the Greek people want to see some respite from austerity, where do the leaders of this anti-austerity campaign think they will get the money to service their debts, and more importantly, when? I haven't seen any credible explanation of this, and to that end I am concerned for Greece's future. The issue stems from the reason they got into debt in the first place. If they don't have the means to pay off the money they owe now, then without significant reform, how will they ever?

    It seems the leaders of this party want to test Europe's resolve when it comes to forcing them to leave the EU? I personally think it is extremely unfair to ask other countries to pick up the bill for your own mismanagement of affairs.

  10. Get involvedpublished at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Toks tweets, external: Alexis Tsipras has his work cut out, the Greeks are fed up, if he doesn't deliver he will certainly not be treated kind. #greeceElections

  11. White House messagepublished at 14:37 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    The White House has said it is looking forward to working with the new Greek government. A statement read: "The Greek people have taken many difficult but important steps to lay the groundwork for economic recovery. 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."

  12. Postpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    More pictures from Alexis Tsipras' swearing-in ceremony.

    Alexis Tsipras at his swearing in ceremonyImage source, Reuters
  13. Postpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Alexis Tsipras, no tie, smiles after being sworn in as Greece's new prime minister.

    Alexis Tsipras smiles after being sworn in as prime minister of Greece, 26 January
  14. Postpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Maria Petrakis, Bloomberg

    tweets:, external Tsipras opted for civil oath to be sworn in, first time ever #interestingtimes

  15. New Greek PMpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    The swearing in ceremony is complete. Alexis Tsipras vowed to uphold the constitution and serve the Greek people. Greece now has a new prime minister.

  16. Swearing inpublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras is being sworn in as the new Greek prime minister.

  17. Postpublished at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Mr Juncker has arrived for the meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels.

    European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker arrives for talks with European finance ministers at EU council headquarters in Brussels, 26 JanuaryImage source, EPA
  18. 'Difficult negotiations'published at 13:57 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Andrew Walker, BBC News

    The election campaign of the victorious Syriza party revolved around the idea of ending austerity and easing the debt burden.

    It is not welcome to the country's bailout lenders, notably Germany. So we can expect the new Greek government to have difficult negotiations with the rest of the eurozone.

    Neither side really wants Greece to leave, so a compromise seems likely, but an exit is nonetheless a possibility. Syriza's victory is also a boost for anti-austerity political movements in other countries struggling to reduce government borrowing.

  19. Postpublished at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Maria Petrakis, Bloomberg

    tweets, external: Tsipras arrives to be sworn in. Not wearing a tie but looks dapper anyway

  20. Eurozone 'headache'published at 13:50 Greenwich Mean Time 26 January 2015

    Greek economist Dimitri Mardas says the focus for Greece's new government and its eurozone partners will be restructuring Greece's enormous public debt. Take a look at his analysis of the future of the eurozone.