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No risk of contagion from Greek vote - Italy economy minister

Italy's Minister of Economy and Finance Pier Carlo Padoan speaks during a discussion on "A Reform Agenda for Europe's Leaders" during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings in Washington October 9, 2014. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

ROME (Reuters) - Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Thursday that possible fallout from Greece's political showdown would not trigger a euro zone debt crisis like the one that pushed Italy close to default three years ago. "Greece in 2015 is not the same as it was in 2010-2011," Padoan said at a conference in Rome. "There is absolutely no risk of contagion for us." The Greek parliament held a first round of voting on Wednesday, failing to elect a new president. There will be two further rounds of voting, ending on Dec. 29, which could lead to a snap election if parliament cannot elect a new president. Polls suggest the election would be won by the leftist Syriza party, which promises to renegotiate the international bailout accord Greece still needs to keep its finances afloat. (Reporting by Stefano Bernabei)