Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has called elections on 6 May.

希腊总理卢卡斯·帕帕季莫斯宣布5月6日将举行选举。

Mr Papademos, an economist¹, was made prime minister last November to help steer² Greece through its debt crisis.

He told a cabinet meeting that the government had left behind "an important legacy³" and would continue its work during the election campaign.

After asking President Karolos Papoulias to dissolve parliament, he will then speak on national TV.

The election will be Greece's first since the start of the debt crisis that has led to drastic（激烈的） spending cuts and violent protests.

Opinion polls suggest parties opposed to austerity could make big gains.

The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says the 6 May date comes after months of speculation⁴ and raises the prospect⁵ of a short and highly-charged campaign.

Mr Papademos, 64, told his ministerial colleagues that in the five months since their interim⁶ government had been formed they had shown that "we can co-operate, combine viewpoints when necessary and put our differences aside, making decisions for the good of the country".