A group of at least 25 Syriza lawmakers led by Panagiotis Lafazanis, a former Energy Minister, abandoned the party to create a new movement called Popular Unity. The party is now the third-largest party in the Greek parliament, and could form a new administration.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has submitted his resignation on Thursday evening and called for early elections. Tsipras is seeking a mandate to implement reforms.