Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou has said during a parliamentary debate that talks with the opposition must start immediately.

Papandreou has abandoned his plan to put a European rescue deal to popular vote and demanded his opponents’ support in parliament to pass the agreement into law. He says he is not tied to his post, and is ready to begin discussions with the main opposition New Democracy party, which called for a transitional government that would implement the EU agreement and secure the next loan payment.

He said, "Discussions should begin immediately for the formation of such a scheme, that will be a widely accepted, capable, that will serve national interests, difficult periods, and after, - having secured the smooth course of the country, the implementation of the bailout agreement... - then we can go towards election procedures. But we can’t just say let the government resign, that could leave the country hanging, it would have left a terrible void at this critical time."