Alexis Tsipras, the leader of the Greek Radical Left Coalition, says that in spite of his best efforts, he has failed to raise enough support to form a coalition government after receiving the mandate calling on him to do so Tuesday. Tsipras will return the mandate to President Karolos Papoulias Thursday. Greece has faced political lockdown since Sunday’s parliamentary election, as the poll split between a multitude of parties with no single one collecting over 20 per cent of the vote. The mandate to create a coalition bloc passed first through the Conservative party, then on to the socialist Radical Left Coalition.