Samaras names presidency candidate in Greek bailout gamble

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras smiles during a news conference with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Cyprus' President Nicos Anastasiades (unseen) after their summit at the presidential palace in Cairo November 8, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

ATHENS (Reuters) - Prime Minister Antonis Samaras named his candidate on Tuesday for the Greek presidency under a gamble that, if it fails, would force snap parliamentary elections when anti-bailout leftists would probably come out on top.

Samaras launched his do-or-die strategy late on Monday, bringing forward by two months a vote in parliament to elect a new head of state, even though he has yet to secure the required support of 180 lawmakers.