Athens Stock Exchange Drops 15% On New Fears

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The Athens stock exchange has plunged by more the 15% over fears political turmoil will hit Greece's fiscal reform measures.

If the drop holds until markets close it would become the biggest one-day fall in almost 30 years.

Investors have been spooked that the country may be forced to hold early general elections.

Concern comes from the prospect of a left-wing opposition party, that currently leads the polls, winning and derailing reforms.

The Syriza party wants a cut to what Greece owes in bailout money, arranged with the so-called troika of the EU, IMF and European Central Bank.

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Gallery: Youth Protests Turn Violent In Athens

A protester holds a placard during clashes at the end of a youth protest to commemorate the six-year anniversary of the fatal shooting of teenager Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer

A protester wearing a gas mask holds a black flag in Athens

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The commemoration is held as a close friend of Grigoropoulos, 21-year-old anarchist Nikos Romanos, jailed for attempted bank robbery, is on the 26th day of a hunger strike. Here riot police fire tear gas at protesters

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Greek police take position during clashes. Click through for more pictures

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Greece has only just announced it has finally come out of a painful six-year recession.

The economic contraction has seen major social, economic and political upheaval in the struggling southern eurozone periphery.

In response to the fresh fears, Greece's government named respected former EU commissioner Stavros Dimas as its presidential candidate in a crucial parliamentary vote this month.

On Monday the government made a surprise move and brought forward the start of the presidential vote by two months to December 17.

There is now the risk of early elections if the government fails to secure a large parliamentary majority to back Mr Dimas' nomination.

The government needs 25 more votes than the 180 it currently holds in its coalition.

The conservative government hopes to bring about an early end to the €240bn (£195bn) bailout that rescued Greece at the height of its debt crisis.

But the programme is deeply unpopular with swathes of society because of the strict austerity conditions and enforced reforms.

The country was hit with a series of protests last weekend, which mirrored numerous violent demonstrations during the height of the reform process.

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