Berlin Says Ready to Cooperate With New Greek Government

Berlin will work closely and in the spirit of partnership with the new Greek government, according to Steffen Seibert, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — Germany is ready to work with the new Greek government, Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said Monday.

On Sunday, the left-wing Greek party Syriza won snap parliamentary elections in the country, taking 35.46 percent of the vote.

"Of course, the government will work closely and in the spirit of partnership with the new Greek government," Steffen Seibert told journalists in Berlin.

Seibert said he expects the countries to work closely on a number of issues, including overcoming the Greek debt crisis, as well as attempting to tackle the massive EU refugee crisis.

According to Seibert, the German chancellor will also congratulate Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras for winning the parliamentary elections in person.

The snap vote in Greece was brought about by then-Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' resignation from the post in August in a bid to gain public support for the austerity reforms he backed to receive financial aid from the country's international creditors and to remain in the eurozone.