Panagiotis Pikramenos has been sworn in as the leader of the interim government of Greece. His cabinet has been selected, and the resulting government will be in power until the elections, expected to be on Sunday, June 17th, 2012 .

While the failure of the May 6th election to result in a new durable government for Greece was a jolt, this outcome was not entirely unexpected. It is anticipated that the upcoming new elections will be successful in creating a new government, as many Greeks who cast "protest" votes in the first voting may now change their minds and lean toward the larger parties which are more likely to claim a clear victory.

More news sources and Headines from Greece

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Want to upgrade your Greek experience? This season could be the year to do it, as many upscale Greek hotels have lowered prices substantially. Trivago, a Greek hotel site, tracks hotel price trends all over Greece. With rare exceptions, they are down throughout Greece, putting Greece in the Top Three Cheapest European Destinations as far as hotel prices go. Best news for travelers - some of the deepest discounts are at the most luxurious properties, so if you think that caldera-view room on Santorini or that suite in a classic hotel in Athens was out of reach, it's worth checking to see just how good a deal you can find or negotiate.

While this won't cheer the hearts of Greeks looking to tourism for increased revenues, it does add up to be a great deal for travelers.

More on Hotels in Greece.

Looking for a trip to Greece that's, well, cheap compared to others? Check out my regularly updated list of the best bargains and specials on Greece travel - from luxury cruises to adventures to special-interest cooking trips and other delights. Snag an especially good deal? Choose another with the money you've saved and double your time in Greece.

Most of these offers are limited - the newest or fastest-expiring ones are toward the top of the page, while more extended deals and offers are toward the bottom. And the top of the list has one that could make a mother-daughter pair very happy, if you're still scrambling for a verymemorable Mother's Day gift.

Cheap Greece

Photo: Eurynome Journeys. Used by permission

The annual European "Open Doors" wine event occurs this weekend, May 12-13, throughout Greece at participating wineries.

The Greek island of Santorini, long famous for its wines and its unusual "basket weave" way of training the vines to withstand the arid climate, has at least nine wineries participating, including Gaia, Hatzidakis and Boutari, which have an import presence abroad, plus Argyros,Gavalas, A. Karamolegou, Koutsogiannopoulos, Roussos, and Sigala.

Wineries will be offering free tastings and a 20% discount on wine purchases. While the tastings are free, many of them have limited capacity and some require registration.

Many wineries are offering enhanced parallel events, including special food, music, and other delights - contact any winery that interests you for details. Here is a list for Domaine Gerovassiliou which gives a good idea of what you may find at a winery near you in Greece.