ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The head of Greece’s Council of State will take the reins of the country until it holds new elections on June 17, state TV said a meeting of party leaders decided today, a day after power-sharing talks collapsed.

Nine days of negotiations among Greece’s bickering parties failed after May 6 inconclusive elections left no party with enough votes for a majority in parliament. The lack of a deal to share power meant the only option open was to head back to the ballot box.

The caretaker government will have no mandate to take any internationally binding commitments, with emergencies to be handled in consultation with party leaders, Communist Party head Aleka Papariga said.

“It will be a strictly caretaker government, which must not take any action at the EU or NATO that will be binding for the Greek people,” Papariga said after another meeting with other party heads, convened by President Karolos Papoulias to find agreement on who will lead the temporary government.

“If there is an emergency or unforeseen event, that can be addressed by consultation among the parties with the involvement of the president,” she said.

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