Greek conservative leader Antonis Samaras will launch coalition talks Monday after coming first in national elections that follow weeks of uncertainty over the debt-crippled country's future in Europe's joint currency. Leaders of the European Union appeared relieved that a pro-austerity government could now form. The 17-nation group "is convinced that continued fiscal and structural reforms are Greece's best guarantee to overcome the current economic and social challenges," it said in a statement. Asian stock markets climbed early Monday on the news, as did those in Greece, with Athens stocks gaining 3.2 percent in early trading, according to a report of the Associated Press. With 129 of Parliament's 300 seats, Samaras' New Democracy party lacks enough legislators to govern alone, and must seek allies among the smaller pro-bailout Socialists. Samaras will receive the presidential mandate to start power-sharing talks shortly after noon, after President Karolos Papoulias is handed the final election results. With 99.95 percent of the ballots counted so far, New Democracy has 29.66 percent, followed by the Syriza left coalition at 26.89 percent.
