Lucas Papademos, a former banker and European Central Bank vice president, has been named prime minister of Greece, the Greek president's office said Thursday.
Papademos was one of several political leaders meeting with Greek President Karolos Papoulia with the goal of forming a new government.
Prime Minister George Papandreou's office had said he would resign Wednesday, but that move was delayed until Thursday.
In a televised address to the nation, Papandreou said that a government of national unity would do whatever was necessary to bring Greece out of its economic crisis.
The country will be stronger and more secure after it implements a controversial European bailout deal that was agreed to last month, he said.
Greece wants the international community to see that it knows how to be united in the face of difficulty, he added. "A new season is opening," he said, adding that he wished the new government success.
Papandreou met Wednesday night with President Papoulias, but did not offer his resignation.
The prime minister said this week he was optimistic about the formation of a new government amid thorny discussions.
-Â CNN's Elinda Labropoulou and Andrew Carey in Athens contributed to this report.
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A discovery we made in our house – leftover turkey is great for stir fry.
A cannibal might say Oman and Yemen.
I hope someone else can think of one. I'm Hungary.
Lmao!!! Fun.
Hot diggity dog....Chile...lol!
...I want my food...Togo...!
...homegrown Macedonia nuts...anyone???
...Turkey with Greece on fine China makes me Hungary...lol!
Chile!! I forgot about Chile!
Lmao! I'll take it all Togo...
ya gotta have some cool and the gang music at the dinner party: shake-shake-shake! shake-shake-shake! Shake Djibouti!
Shake Djibouti!
You're very good at puns, Mmmmm.