Greek Leader Tsipras Calls Elections After Party Rebellion

03:44

August 20, 2015

The Associated Press

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras answers journalists' questions after an EU summit at the EU headquarters in Brussels on June 26, 2015. The German chancellor urged Greece to accept an 'extraordinarily generous' offer from its EU-IMF creditors, which includes at least 12 billion euros ($13.4 billion) in further rescue cash over the next five months. (John Thys/AFP/Getty Images)

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he is stepping down and calling early elections after suffering a rebellion within his left-wing Syriza party over the country' new bailout program.

In a televised address to the nation Thursday night, Tsipras defended his government's negotiating tactics and said Greece got the best deal possible for its three-year, 86 billion euro bailout from other eurozone countries.

He said that now that the country has secured its funding, he felt a "deep moral" obligation to lay his actions before the judgment of the Greek people.

Tsipras was due to formally submit his resignation to the country's president. Elections will be held within a month, with government officials saying Sept. 20 would be the likeliest date.

Guest

John Psaropoulos, independent journalist in Athens, Greece. His blog is “The New Athenian.” He tweets @thenewathenian.

This segment aired on August 20, 2015.