Greek government faces first test in crucial presidential vote

Greece's Prime Minister and leader of ruling conservative New Democracy party Antonis Samaras addresses his parliamentary group in Athens December 11, 2014. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Wednesday faces the first of three rounds of a presidential vote that will determine whether the country is forced into snap national elections and a new period of political chaos.

Samaras's conservative-leftist coalition is almost certain to fail in the first round, when it needs the support of 200 lawmakers in the 300-seat chamber to elect its nominee, Stavros Dimas. But the backing his coalition, which controls 155 deputies, garners will be closely watched as a sign of momentum for or against it ahead of a final, decisive vote on Dec. 29 when the super majority required for victory falls to 180.